Peshawar High Court orders no load-shedding during Sehri, Iftar

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has ordered the Peshawar Electric Supply Company not to perform load-shedding during Sehri and Iftar in the month of Ramazan, on Tuesday.

The court has given a five-page written decision on a petition, a case filed against unannounced electricity load-shedding in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

According to the decision, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) is required to take concrete steps to remove the issue of unannounced load-shedding. If it is unavoidable, the company is required to make a transparent schedule.

The court has said that all possible steps should be taken to remove the issue of load-shedding and directed PESCO and other concerned parties to ensure the implementation of the 2014 judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on the issue of electricity generation and distribution.

The judgment stated that the petition was moved by three lawyers for orders to stop load-shedding.

During the hearing, the counsel for PESCO challenged the jurisdiction of the court, saying that there is an appropriate appellate tribunal available to deal with such cases. However, the court pointed out that it cannot overlook the realities on the ground, especially the power shortage in the energy sector of Pakistan.

It stated that the court cannot issue orders for a 24-hour uninterrupted power supply in the prevailing situation, saying that it is the job of the distribution companies to avoid unannounced power cuts.

The court also asked PESCO and all concerned to make arrangements for the supply of electricity, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) on Friday said that the first day of the holy month of Ramazan is likely to be February 19. In a press release issued last week, the commission said that the new moon of Ramazan would be born on February 17 at 5.01 pm.