Govt likely to introduce load shedding plan for industries

* Textile and steel sectors to be exempted
* Commercial and domestic users to also face only night-time load shedding

By Zafar Bhutta

ISLAMABAD: The government is likely to introduce a load shedding plan for all industries, except textile and steel, to cope with the power deficit, a senior official told Daily Times on Friday.

Various options are being considered, including the plan to introduce one-day distributed load shedding for almost all industries.

The government has, however, decided to exempt the textile and steel sectors. They will be provided uninterrupted electricity during the day, though they will still face load shedding at night, he said.

All industries, including textile and steel, have been asked to select a day for load shedding. The plan will be implemented after they respond, the official said.

Night lights out: Tertiary service operations will receive power during the day, but will experience load shedding in the evening. Domestic consumers will likewise be subjected load shedding at night, as the power deficit peaks at 3,500 MW then.

The government has also asked all electric supply companies to liase with steel melting units to chalk out a plan to restore power supply and get them up and running again. On January 5, all such units were shut down for 15 days to save 450 MW.

The official said independent power producers share the blame for the deficit as they are generating only 3,800 MW, whereas they had committed to generating 5,800 MW in the purchase agreement.

IRSA recently approved the release of 18,000 cusecs to enable WAPDA to generate 1,200 MW, but Punjab’s refusal on Thursday to accept its indent of water has forced the government to explore other measures.

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Aarwaa

Pakistan is ruled by three As - Army, America and Allah.