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No respite from load-shedding in Pakistan even in Ramadan

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  • Power outages severely hit Pakistan during Ramadan at time of iftar and sehri. 
  • Power outages have further increased up to 10-12 hours.
  • Country faces load-shedding due to unavailability of required fuel for power generation and non-maintenance of some power plants.

ISLAMABAD: Power outages have severely hit Pakistan during the holy month of Ramadan following the unavailability of required fuel for power generation and the non-maintenance of some important power plants, The News reported Friday. 

The power outages have further increased up to 10-12 hours, making the lives of the public miserable even at the time of iftar and sehri.

A power division official said: “The less production of hydropower in the wake of no improvement in water flows into the system and no rain spell coupled with an increase in demand of electricity, because of a surge in mercury, which has increased to 19,000MW at peak hours, have also aggravated the electricity availability crisis. However, the demand during the daytime stands at 16,000 MW.”

According to official details, 12,000 MW of electricity is being produced in the daytime and 16,000 MW at peak hours starting from iftari to sehri, knowing the fact that the country has an installed capacity of electricity of over 39,000 MW, the publication reported.

All urban centres, such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Sialkot have been severely hit with 4-10 hours of load-shedding and rural areas with 10-12 hours. In Karachi, 3-4 hours of load-shedding is underway because of a reduction in electricity supply from the national grid by 300 MW. 

In Interior Sindh, the load-shedding currently stands at 10-12 hours. In Rawalpindi, power outages hover over 4-5 hours. The dwellers in Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sialkot and their rural areas are also experiencing power outages of 4-10 hours. However, some areas are also facing load-shedding but at a bearable level.

In Lahore and its suburbs, the load-shedding stands at 4-10 hours. In the jurisdiction of MEPCO, power outages have increased to 12 hours. In Balochistan, the electricity load-shedding has surged to 10-12 hours. KPK is also facing power outages from 6-12 hours.

The water resources ministry said that Wapda has the installed capacity to generate electricity of 9,400 MW out of which during peak hours, the hydro generation currently stands at 4,700 MW whereas the average production of hydel stands at 3,400 MW. The system is getting from Tarbela Dam just an average 762 MW, Mangla 433 MW, Warsak 111 MW because of no improvement in water flows. However, the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project is producing electricity of 968 MW and the Ghazi Barotha hydropower project 644 MW on average.

Liberty Power of 210 MW, Rousch of 410 MW, Nandipur of 525 MW, FKPCL 140 MW and nine units of Faisalabad GTPS have not been producing electricity for the non-availability of RLNG for the last four months, from Dec 12, 2021.

HCPC of 120 MW has also been dysfunctional since October 4, 2019, owing to the expiry of its gas supply agreement. Two units of Jamshoro Power House of 549 MW and four units of Muzaffargarh of 840 MW have been non-functional since April 8 and 9, 2022, for a lack of furnace oil. 

The unit-2 of the Sahiwal power plant based on coal has not been producing electricity of 621 MW since April 20, 2022, for a lack of imported coal. However, 18 power plants having a capacity of 3,605 MW have been non-functional because of technical faults and non-maintenance.

Education

Students from Balochistani start their academic adventure in China.

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China is the destination of ten Gwadar Institute of Technology (GIT) students who are going there for school. They will be pursuing Associate Engineering Diplomas at Hebei Jiaotong Vocational and Technical College after being chosen for the Sino-Pak Dual Diploma Program.

These students had the privilege of seeing the Chinese Consul General in Karachi prior to their departure, where they were greeted with warmth and given support for their future ambitions.

These ten people, who are from Pasni, Turbat, Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, and Surab, among other places, exemplify the talent and diversity of Balochistan.

The Government of Balochistan and the well-known Chinese corporation Tang are supporting this opportunity, which gives these youngsters a grant to help with their study overseas.

The children would want to express their sincere gratitude to the Pakistan Army and the Government of Balochistan for making this opportunity possible.

They are excited to take advantage of this opportunity to continue their studies and support Balochstan’s growth, especially through initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

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Latest News

Amid controversy surrounding judges’ letters, PM Sharif will meet with CJP Isa today.

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Today’s key meeting between Pakistan’s Chief Justice, Qazi Faez Isa, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is planned in the midst of ongoing discussions regarding a letter sent by six justices of the Islamabad High Court regarding outside meddling in court cases.

Azam Nazir Tarar, the minister of law, and Mansoor Usman Awan, the attorney general for Pakistan, are expected to accompany Prime Minister Sharif to the CJP meeting.

The meeting follows a full court session that CJP Isa called on Wednesday, with the express purpose of addressing issues brought up in a letter signed by six judges of the Islamabad High Court.

All of the participating judges carefully examined the letter’s contents during the session, analyzing both its constitutional and legal consequences. Discussions about the letter’s publication’s legal and constitutional ramifications were also included in the session.

All of the judges actively participated in the lengthy two hours and twelve minute discussion, offering their thoughts on the subject at hand.

According to sources, the top judge of Pakistan is expected to chair another full court meeting today. It is anticipated that this session would examine the letter’s contents in greater detail, with additional evaluation and discussion among the SC judges.

On Wednesday, the bar associations of the High Courts of Islamabad, Lahore, Sindh, and Balochistan urged that the CJP conduct a “transparent inquiry” into the matter and that those responsible for it face legal repercussions.

Its cabinet “strongly condemned the interference of one institution into the matters of another institution,” according to a press release from the IHCBA.

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Business

Changes in the US dollar’s value are directly correlated with variations in gold prices.

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The price of 24-karat gold in Pakistan increased by Rs1500 on Thursday, reaching Rs231,000 per tola. This was another jump in the price of gold in the country.

Dealers reported a comparable surge in the price of 10 grams of 24-karat gold, which is currently trading at Rs198,045 after rising by Rs1285. In addition, the cost of ten grams of 22-karat gold increased significantly, trading at Rs 181,541.

These fluctuations are strongly correlated with shifts in the US dollar’s value, demonstrating the tight connection between gold prices and exchange rates. This emphasizes how local gold markets are impacted by variables related to the global economy.

At Rs2,580, the price of 24-karat silver remains steady right now. The price of gold increased significantly on a global scale as well, rising by $14 to $2,214 per ounce.

It’s critical to understand that changes in the worldwide market can have a substantial impact on gold prices in Pakistan throughout the day. The gold rates that are offered are obtained from reliable sources, mostly situated in Karachi and Multan.

It is recommended that individuals seek the advice of nearby gold merchants and jewellers for the most precise and current information regarding gold prices.

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