By Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD — Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari on Monday apologised to consumers for nighttime electricity loadshedding, saying a combination of rising demand and constraints in gas supplies had forced authorities to resort to load management.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Leghari said electricity consumption had increased during nighttime hours at a time when gas shortages were affecting power generation.
The mismatch between available electricity generation and higher demand made load management necessary, he said, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to households and businesses.
The minister appreciated consumers for showing patience and said the government was working to minimise disruptions and provide maximum possible relief to the public.
Leghari said the government was also taking measures aimed at increasing electricity generation and improving the performance of the energy sector.
He pointed out, however, that electricity supply conditions were different in areas suffering from high levels of power theft. Such areas were experiencing additional loadshedding as authorities sought to control losses and improve recoveries.
The minister also referred to gas-related issues involving Qatar, saying the government was making efforts to resolve the matter at the earliest.
Gas availability remains important for Pakistan’s electricity system because several power plants depend on gas and imported fuel for generation. Any constraint in fuel supply can affect available generation, particularly when electricity consumption rises.
The latest power cuts have again brought electricity supply and demand management into focus, with consumers particularly sensitive to outages during nighttime hours.
Leghari said efforts were continuing to improve the energy sector and increase electricity availability, while assuring consumers that the government was working to address the problems contributing to load management.
The government, he said, wanted to create maximum convenience for the public despite existing constraints in the power system.
