ISLAMABAD: In a crippling blow to daily life, Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan, finds itself in the throes of an unparalleled gas and power crisis amid chilling weather season.
The severity of shortages has reached historic levels, leaving citizens and industries in disarray as unannounced loadshedding disrupts routine activities.
The gas deficit in Punjab has skyrocketed to alarming proportions, with demand surging to 2,100 million cubic feet per day, while the supply languishes at a mere 1,200 million. This staggering gap has resulted in a precipitous drop in gas pressure, rendering even household stoves inoperable and causing widespread inconvenience for residents across the province.
Compounding the ordeal, unannounced power cuts persist despite the cold winter season typically witnessing reduced electricity demand.
According to sources from the Power Division, fluctuations in demand and supply have led to a shortfall of nearly 5,000 megawatts. As a consequence, major cities like Lahore are grappling with up to 5 hours of blackouts, while smaller towns face even more extended outages, lasting up to 8 hours.
The crisis has extended its reach to the industrial sector as well, exacerbating the challenges faced by businesses. In response to the acute gas shortage and low pressure, the Sui Southern Gas Company has declared a 48-hour shutdown for industries. This move, affecting power plants and CNG stations, comes on the heels of a previous 48-hour gas suspension, further debilitating crucial industrial operations.
The combined pressure of energy shortages and unannounced disruptions is exacting a heavy toll on the residents and businesses of Punjab. With no immediate resolution in sight, the challenges pose a formidable test for authorities tasked with finding sustainable solutions to restore normalcy to the lives of millions in the province.
Shockingly, all parts of the country are facing hours-long gas and power cuts amid chilling weather season which has ruined the entire routine life of the countrymen. Major urban centers of the country amid cold weather season are experiencing upto 8 hours long power cuts while duration of electricity loadshedding in the rural areas of the country are upto 14 hours.
Moreover, gas shortfall for domestic consumers has increased to unprecedented level as they are facing upto 16 hours gas outages. The situation in Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Karachi, Sukkur, Quetta, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan etc exemplifies the broader challenges gripping the entire country.
It is pertinent to mention that as the crisis deepens, it underscores the urgent need for strategic measures to address both short-term supply issues and long-term energy infrastructure development. The situation demands a comprehensive and coordinated response from government bodies, energy regulators, and stakeholders to alleviate the suffering of the people and prevent such crises in the future. The coming days will undoubtedly be critical in shaping the trajectory of Punjab’s energy landscape and the well-being of its inhabitants.
