Masses fast losing sight of electricity light

LAHORE/KARACHI - Prolonged and incessant power breakdowns have come back to haunt the people, plunging almost the whole country into darkness.

Unannounced loadshedding up to even 21 hours continued to cripple the life of the common man in urban and rural areas of all big and small cities and towns. There were no exceptions as mega cities like Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and small towns and villages faced massive loadshedding.

In Lahore, duration of power outages were extended to 12 hours, as the power feeders were being shutdown on every alternative hour.

Reports from several parts of Punjab revealed that people have been without electricity for 20 to 23 hours.

People in some areas lamented that electricity was restored only for 10 to 15 minutes and after that they again had to face loadshedding.

They said that their life had become a hell as simple routines like eating, bathing and praying have become much harder.

They put the question that in summer, the usage of fans, air-conditioners and air-coolers increase as there was justification of loadshedding in hot weather but why they were being forced to face this menace when the climate has turned normal.

They pointed out that top brass was enjoying in air-conditioned rooms and offices and even travel in air-conditioned vehicles but they pay no attention to men,women and children who are suffering in agony.

Industrialists and businessmen community said that it was almost impossible for industry to flourish in an environment where 10 to 15 hours power shutdown was being experienced daily.

They said that commercial and industrial units needed steady power supply to run their machines and business activities but the current frequent power outages were causing great harm to economic activities in the country.