Load Shedding In Pakistan has finally ended– temporarily

I have some good news for all you Pakistani’s who have been deprived of electricity for the most part of the day, Pakistan Electric and Power Corp. (PEPCO) has announced that there won’t be any load shedding in the country, but added that its only a matter of time before we all get back to our usual load shedding routine.

LAHORE: Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) announced that the ongoing power load shedding in the country has been terminated, as the demand and supply of electricity equaled owing to the increased power production from Terbela and Mangla dams, Geo News reported Friday. He added the recent power production came up to 11,988 Megawatts, the same is the demand of power in the country; hence, the shortfall narrowed to zero.

Now all we can do is hope that the water levels in Tarbela and Mangla maintain their current position, because the government seems to be pretty much helpless about the situation.

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Ending Load Shedding: A Promise That Never Was

The power crisis is one of the biggest problems Pakistan is facing today. I am currently running on generator as I write this post, this is the first power cut in my area after almost a month.  Load shedding for up to 6-8 hours is being carried out, and in some areas, for up to 18 hours.

The minister for Water & Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf, promised the nation, not once but several times that load shedding will end by December ’09. However it doesn’t look like the minister would be able to keep his promise as the power
projects initiated by the current Government are facing delays due to the lack of funds, from what I have heard.

While I understand the problems being faced by him and his ministry, Raja Pervez shouldn’t have made a promise which he cannot keep. I vividly remember the minister in an interview with a TV channel, saying that he would resign if he is unable to end load shedding by December ’09.

So should he resign ? Well he made a promise, but I’m willing to give him (and his government) more time, but if even then he is not able to end the power crisis, then he must resign, or face the wrath of the people.

Update 1: Raja Parvez Ashraf now says that load shedding will end by June ’10. Now if load shedding doesn’t end by June either, he should seriously consider stepping down.

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