K-Electric on Thursday shocked the citizens of Karachi by announcing a new schedule for electricity load-shedding ahead of Eid ul Fitr in specific areas of the city already affected by extended periods of power outages.
The KE spokesperson said that according to the new schedule, different areas of the city will witness two hours of load-shedding, which is in addition to the routine power outages.
The spokesperson cited reduced production capacity due to fuel shortage as the reason for extending the hours of load-shedding. However, the KE expressed hope that the situation will improve on Eid ul Fitr.
The areas which will witness longer periods of power outages include Nazimabad, Federal B Area, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Model Colony, Saadi Town and others
Pakistan is reeling under an energy crisis as the power shortfall reaches 7,468 MW, resulting in up to 10-18 hours of load-shedding nationwide.
Currently, the total power generation stands at 18,031 MW, while the demand hovers around 25,500 MW. Shortage of fuel and technical reasons for shortfall in electricity generation are being called the main reasons for the shutdown of power plants.
As many as 3,674 MW of electricity is being produced from hydro-power, while government thermal power plants are generating only 786 MW. As much as 9,526 MW of electricity is being generated by the private power producers.
Sources say that wind power plants were generating 487 MW, solar power plants were generating 104MW, bio gas plants 141 MW and atomic power plants wer producing 3,312 MW of electricity currently.
