Load-shedding to continue till 90 pc recovery: Asif

ISLAMABAD: The Minister of Water and Power Khawaja Asif says power outages of 10-12 hours will continue in areas where recovery is not up to 90 percent.

The minister expressed these views in a press conference on Monday. He said government is making efforts to provide power supply to people of the country.

"[For instance] we have de-electrified by taking off transformers from areas where people steal electricity and do not pay the bills," Geo News quoted the minister. "This move has created social pressure, making many install meters in their houses and reducing power theft."

The Minister told reporters that the demand for electricity in the country is 17,140 megawatt, which is an increase of 2,000MW from the units required during the same time last year.

The high demand has come from rise in the mercury level throughout the country, he said.

The power minister's press conference came as power outages continued across Pakistan on Sunday, despite the closure of businesses due to the weekly holiday.

According to reports from different parts of the country, electricity shortfall was registered at more than 4,000MW. The reports state power remained suspended for 10 hours in some parts of Lahore.

In the region under Lahore Electric Supply Company, demand was 2,800MW, the supply stood at 2,200MW, showing a shortfall of 600MW.