Updated on
Summary
The heat wave continued across the country, and no relief to the masses from load shedding even on the weekly holiday, Sunday.As the heat wave increased, the electricity short fall rose further. The prolonged and unscheduled power cuts are underway across the country, especially in small cities. At least 9 to 15 hours of load shedding is taking place across different parts of the country.The power crisis has badly hit the routine life and business activities in the counry. Owing to the continued load-shedding, more than 200 small industrial units have been closed in Gujranwala, leaving thousands jobless. The various cities of Southern Punjab including Multan are facing 10 to 12 hours of load shedding and the rural areas 16 hours. Ongoing power crisis is leaving a negative impact on every section of the society, says Shahbaz SharifPunjabs Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that PML-N was fully aware of the problems being faced by the business community. He said the ongoing power crisis is leaving a negative impact on every section of the society. Had the government set its direction the very start, the people would not have taken to the streets against issues like price hike and load-shedding, he added. Some people are politicizing energy crisis, says Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said the government is taking concrete steps to meet energy needs.Chairing a meeting of Council Construction Company, he said the WAPDA and PESCO employees vacations and foreign tours have been cancelled in order to resolve energy-relate issues.He said that some people are politicizing energy crisis, adding the people were needed to cooperate to meet the challenge.He said that on the special directives of President and Prime Minister concrete steps were being taken on emergency basis to resolve the problem.Pervaiz added traders, industrialists and politicians should avoid politicizing the power crisis.He said that ministry is also taking steps against power theft and those WAPDA employees if found involved, would be suspended.Pervaiz Ashraf informed that management crisis cell has been established to improve the situation.
