Khawaja Asif blames power outages on widespread electricity theft

ISLAMABAD: Power outages of 10-12 hours will continue in areas where recovery is not up till 90%, said Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif on Monday.

During a news conference, Khawaja Asif said they were making efforts to provide power supply to people of the country. "[For instance] we have de-electrified by taking off transformers from areas where people steal electricity and do not pay the bills," the minister said. "This move has created social pressure, making many install meters in their houses and reducing power theft."

While talking about the rise in the demand of electricity, he said it was never in April as high as it is this year.

The demand for electricity in the country is 17,140 megawatt, which is an increase of 2,000MW from the units required during the same time last year, he told the media.

The high demand has come from rise in the mercury level throughout the country, he said.

There is an increase of eight degrees in Islamabad, while the temperature is five degrees higher in Multan than what it was in the April of 2016, he added.

The power minister's press conference came as power outages continued across Pakistan on Sunday, despite the closure of businesses due to the weekly holiday.

According to reports from different parts of the country, electricity shortfall was registered at more than 4,000MW. The reports state power remained suspended for 10 hours in some parts of Lahore.

In the region under Lahore Electric Supply Company, demand was 2,800MW, the supply stood at 2,200MW, showing a shortfall of 600MW.

Unannounced load-shedding, in Lahore as well as other cities and towns of the province, impeded the daily routine. The increase temperatures and mosquitoes made people’s lives miserable in cities and rural areas.

Moreover, a few days ago, the workers of Jamaat-e-Islami protested in Karachi against the recent hike in tariff by K-Electric, believing the company was overcharging power consumers.