karan.1970
BANNED
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2010
- Messages
- 14,781
- Reaction score
- -20
- Country
- Location
Dozens hurt critically in protest against power outages | The Nation
ISLAMABAD - Dozens of protesters were severely injured while hundreds of others received minor injuries when police used tear gas to disperse the crowd protesting against 12-hour long electricity loadshedding in the federal capital on Monday.
The protesters were demonstrating against prolonged power outages. The charged mob burnt tyres and blocked the Lehtrar-Islamabad Road for hours. The protesters having sticks in their hands patrolled the area and shouted anti-government slogans.Some 1,000 people from civil society, resident of Lehtrar village and labourers, took to streets to protest against loadshedding. However, the peaceful protest turned into clashes between the demonstrators and police as police officials used force to stop them.Islamabad capital territory police used tear gas and truncheons to disperse protesters demonstrating against long load-shedding hours even in holly month of Ramazan. Some of the protesters hurled bricks in response.
However, situation got worsen when unidentified people opened fire on police making them (police official) fled the scene. With the arrival of additional troops of police force, police officials controlled the mob and chased some of the demonstrators amid the tear gas and bricks.
Pakistan has been in the grip of power crisis for the last many years. Without additional energy supplies, social chaos and disruption in Pakistan lies in the months and years ahead. Electricity shortfalls sometimes reaches as high as 6,000MW, meaning that 40 per cent of the demand is unmet. Daily blackouts have gutted industrial production, closed markets, and CNG is rationed in spite of a huge price hike. Power riots broke out throughout the country including Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Karachi and other cities last months.
A couple of months back this year, protesters against power outages torched a train in Gujranwala. The industrialists, traders and common people of Pakistan have demanded to take steps to get the country out of power crisis. Meanwhile, with the start of holy month of Ramazan, ever-elusive power shortfall has compelled the masses to face power suspension in cities ranging between 8-12 hours while 14-18 hours in rural areas of the country.
Contrary to the tall claims of incumbent government, increased duration of power shortfall in the beginning of Ramazan is causing immense problems for the hard-pressed masses already bearing heavy brunt of unscheduled hours long loadshedding coupled with sky-high power prices in the country from a long time. Duration of power loadshedding in cities is reportedly ranging between 8-12 hours while 14-18 hours is being done in rural areas, thus irking the masses badly.
Officials of the ministry of water and power while talking to TheNation said that consumption of electricity has witnessed increase due to humid environment coupled with scorching heat with the start of Ramazan. They told that currently power generation is 13,700 mw while the demand has surged to 17,500 mw in the country only because usage of air conditioner (AC) has been increased. However, after 8pm to 12midnight the power generation will be increased to 14,500mw to meet the growing demands of power consumers.
Reportedly, announced loadshedding has become a thing of the past too as the shortfall of electricity had increased further, indicating that ever elusive power shortfall is out of the government control during Ramazan despite tall claims so far made by the Premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. Large numbers of common men belonging to the big cities particularly of Lahore, Multan, Karachi and other areas complained that despite promises, power supply during Sehr and Iftari times had not been smoothened.
It is to be noted here that energy crisis has badly affected industrial, trade, agriculture, education, health and other social sectors while the rulers were found harping another tune. Even industrial and trade activities have slowed down while unemployment has increased to mock at the fate of the nation, which further indicates the sorry state of affairs and weak governance in the country.
ISLAMABAD - Dozens of protesters were severely injured while hundreds of others received minor injuries when police used tear gas to disperse the crowd protesting against 12-hour long electricity loadshedding in the federal capital on Monday.
The protesters were demonstrating against prolonged power outages. The charged mob burnt tyres and blocked the Lehtrar-Islamabad Road for hours. The protesters having sticks in their hands patrolled the area and shouted anti-government slogans.Some 1,000 people from civil society, resident of Lehtrar village and labourers, took to streets to protest against loadshedding. However, the peaceful protest turned into clashes between the demonstrators and police as police officials used force to stop them.Islamabad capital territory police used tear gas and truncheons to disperse protesters demonstrating against long load-shedding hours even in holly month of Ramazan. Some of the protesters hurled bricks in response.
However, situation got worsen when unidentified people opened fire on police making them (police official) fled the scene. With the arrival of additional troops of police force, police officials controlled the mob and chased some of the demonstrators amid the tear gas and bricks.
Pakistan has been in the grip of power crisis for the last many years. Without additional energy supplies, social chaos and disruption in Pakistan lies in the months and years ahead. Electricity shortfalls sometimes reaches as high as 6,000MW, meaning that 40 per cent of the demand is unmet. Daily blackouts have gutted industrial production, closed markets, and CNG is rationed in spite of a huge price hike. Power riots broke out throughout the country including Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Karachi and other cities last months.
A couple of months back this year, protesters against power outages torched a train in Gujranwala. The industrialists, traders and common people of Pakistan have demanded to take steps to get the country out of power crisis. Meanwhile, with the start of holy month of Ramazan, ever-elusive power shortfall has compelled the masses to face power suspension in cities ranging between 8-12 hours while 14-18 hours in rural areas of the country.
Contrary to the tall claims of incumbent government, increased duration of power shortfall in the beginning of Ramazan is causing immense problems for the hard-pressed masses already bearing heavy brunt of unscheduled hours long loadshedding coupled with sky-high power prices in the country from a long time. Duration of power loadshedding in cities is reportedly ranging between 8-12 hours while 14-18 hours is being done in rural areas, thus irking the masses badly.
Officials of the ministry of water and power while talking to TheNation said that consumption of electricity has witnessed increase due to humid environment coupled with scorching heat with the start of Ramazan. They told that currently power generation is 13,700 mw while the demand has surged to 17,500 mw in the country only because usage of air conditioner (AC) has been increased. However, after 8pm to 12midnight the power generation will be increased to 14,500mw to meet the growing demands of power consumers.
Reportedly, announced loadshedding has become a thing of the past too as the shortfall of electricity had increased further, indicating that ever elusive power shortfall is out of the government control during Ramazan despite tall claims so far made by the Premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. Large numbers of common men belonging to the big cities particularly of Lahore, Multan, Karachi and other areas complained that despite promises, power supply during Sehr and Iftari times had not been smoothened.
It is to be noted here that energy crisis has badly affected industrial, trade, agriculture, education, health and other social sectors while the rulers were found harping another tune. Even industrial and trade activities have slowed down while unemployment has increased to mock at the fate of the nation, which further indicates the sorry state of affairs and weak governance in the country.
