Power outages amid extreme heatwave add to misery in Pakistan
Most parts of Pakistan to experience ‘unusually high’ temperatures this week
Islamabad: An extreme heatwave in most parts of Pakistan and widespread power outages throughout the country have made daytime “unbearable” for citizens.
Pakistanis are facing long hours of power cuts - of up to six to 8 hours in urban areas and 8 to 12 hours in rural regions - across the country. “Eight to 10 hours of loadshedding in this sweltering heat is just agonising. Outside, the air feels like everything is on fire and staying inside during power cuts is unbearable. Only rain can end our miseries” said Saima Mussadaq, a Rawalpindi resident.
“What is the use of air conditioners and refrigerators when you cannot even use these appliances to the full in summers?” complained housewife Samra Khalid. Small businesses and factories claimed they are facing losses due to the prolonged power cuts.
Pakistan’s current peak summertime electricity demand ranges between 26,000 and 27,000MW and the country is facing a shortfall of between 6,000-7,000 MW leading to power cuts, according to local media.
Extreme heatwave
Temperatures have been soaring above 40C in Islamabad, Lahore and several other regions since the weekend. Pakistan Met Office had warned that most parts of Pakistan would experience “unusually high” temperatures and remain in the grip of heatwave conditions from June 4 to 9. “Day temperatures in Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Sindh and Eastern Balochistan are expected to rise significantly above normal” while occasional dust storm/dust raising winds may also occur in afternoon/evening during the period.
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) advised people not to spend excessive time in direct sunlight and take precautions to avoid heatstroke over the next few days. The extreme heat has threatened crops, increased fire risks and flooding from melting glaciers. Several wildfires have been reported in different parts of the country over the last few weeks.
PM seeks emergency plan to cut load shedding
On Saturday, Prime Minis¬ter Shehbaz Sharif directed the authorities to prepare an emergency plan within 24 hours to reduce loadshedding hours to not more than two hours a day. Sharif reviewed the power crisis in the country and discussed measures to reduce the electricity shortfall during the meeting.
Federal Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir said that a complete end to loadshedding was not possible but its intensity will reduce in the coming weeks. Pakistan’s coalition government is considering several options including a 4.5-day workweek and adjusting business hours to save fuel and electricity after the massive price hike.