People in Punjab, Pakistan, are facing severe power outages lasting up to eight hours in urban areas and 12-16 hours in rural regions served by Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco). The situation deteriorated recently with unannounced load shedding, leaving residents without electricity for most of the day. Gas supply issues have also emerged, affecting cooking hours and causing low gas pressure in some areas.
Residents like Liaqat from Awan Town expressed distress over continuous hourly load shedding, leading to sleepless nights and prolonged power cuts throughout the day. Various parts of Punjab, including Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Multan, reported similar power outages, prompting an increase in complaints to Lesco about the situation.
Moreover, gas load shedding has impacted several areas in Punjab, including Lahore, where residents are facing reduced gas supply during cooking hours. The situation is dire in tail-end areas, with extremely low gas pressure hindering daily cooking activities. In Karachi, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has faced criticism for failing to provide uninterrupted gas supply, forcing many households to seek alternative cooking options from roadside vendors and LPG suppliers.
As the gas shortage persists, long queues have formed at LPG stations and shops, exacerbating the challenges faced by residents. The scarcity of LPG in many outlets has further compounded the difficulties for people seeking cooking alternatives amid the ongoing gas supply issues.
