Govt says no power or gas loadshedding during Sehr, Iftar

The power and petroleum ministers on Wednesday reassured the nation that there would be no loadshedding of electricity and gas during Sehr and Iftar times in the coming Ramazan.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Power Minister Awais Leghari said, “We have decided that there will be absolutely no loadshedding in any area, unless there is a massive fault, God forbid, during the timings of Sehr and Iftar.”

“Even economic loadshedding in areas with high-loss feeders will be limited during the time of Sehr and Iftar,” he said.

Leghari said that it was the desire of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that people fasting for Ramazan should get “proper and timely” provision of utility services so that they “do not face any issues”.

Malik, on the other hand, said that “complete arrangements” have been made for the supply of gas “with maximum pressure from 3am to 10:30pm, especially during Sehr and Iftar”.

Leghari reiterated that it would be made sure that “there is no suspension of electricity during these timings across Pakistan”.

He said that a special control room has been set up at the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) to keep a check on all the feeders and ensure the same.

“You have the 118 helpline; please register a complaint on it if you experience any sort of issues. It will be resolved immediately,” said the power minister.

In his address, Malik said that the no gas loadshedding was decided after consultation with the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), so that the people are provided with “as many facilities as possible”.

“Additional quantities have been arranged,” he said.

For gas complaints, consumers can register a complaint on 119, said the petroleum minister. Situation rooms have been set up in the SNGPL and SSGC head offices, he added.