LAHORE Loadshedding continued across country as the power authorities seemed numb over the increasing shortfall marring the masses badly. The electricity shortfall on Thursday reached at 5,655 MW with average 18 hours outages in urban and rural areas. There were reports of protest demonstration in various cities including Lahore. The Lahorites are facing above 14 hours shutdown with consecutive spells of two to three hours in limits of various grid stations. According to the PEPCOs figures, the electricity generation is lingering standing at 13,110 MW while demand is standing at 18,765 MW. Hydel generation is contributing 5,353 MW, thermal 5,363 MW and IPPs 6,089 MW to the national grid. The cities of Punjab are facing above 15 hours shutdown while in villages average 18 hours load shedding is being conducting by the DISCOs. Balochistan and Khyber Pk are facing above 18 hours of load shedding while in rural areas people are without electricity for 20 hours. In Hyderabad and parts of interior Sindh, 10-14 hours of loadshedding is taking place. According to a local TV the traders staged protest in various cities of Sindh. The local TV reported that in Multan and other areas of southern Punjab, residents were frustrated over the increasing hours of load shedding and that the additional surcharge in electricity bills was badly adding to their misery.