In response to relentless power outages in the scorching heat, enraged citizens of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital stormed the Hazar Khawani grid station on Saturday to restore electricity.
Led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Fazal Elahi, the area’s elders and residents entered the grid station after protesting outside its gate, where heavy police presence had been deployed to manage any potential law and order situation.
Speaking to Geo News, Elahi stated that the protesters would restore electricity to all feeders. “If our electricity is cut off, everyone’s electricity will be cut off,” he said.
Officials from the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) reported that MPA Elahi and the protesters surrounded and entered the Rehman Baba grid station. They forcibly switched on nine high-loss feeders, including Hazar Khawani, Yaka Tut, Akhunabad, and Newchamkani. According to the officials, losses due to power theft and non-payment of dues on these feeders exceed 80%. An operation is ongoing to reduce these losses.
Meanwhile, in Lahore, residents are also enduring unannounced power outages. Some areas face continuous power cuts for an hour every hour during the day, affecting neighborhoods such as Batapur, Manawan, Shahpur, and Shahdara. Unannounced outages have also impacted Kot Lakhpat and Ferozepur Road.
The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) told Geo News that the demand is 4200 MW, but the quota is only 4000 MW. The Sabzazar grid station is facing issues due to a blaze, increasing pressure on other systems.
Sources indicated that load shedding in rural areas continues for several hours, compounding the difficulties for Lahore residents amid a heatwave. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts Lahore will experience a maximum temperature of 43°C, with temperatures fluctuating between 42°C and 44°C throughout the day and humidity at 30%.
