LAHORE-The National Energy Conservation Plan apparently could not take off as Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) could hardly manage to save 89 mw out of the 1000 mw target in its bid to overcome 4,500 mw power shortage after its decision to seek closure of shops by 9 pm, sources told The Nation here on Monday. The sources said that the PEPCO management had misguided the Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf that 1000 mw could be saved through launching the National Energy Conservation Plan besides saving daylight hour. PEPCO was expecting to save 500 mw of electricity while adopting the measure of reactivating the Shop Act, which was meant to protect the work force from over-stretching of working hours. However, the Authority stayed far behind its expectations due to indifference shown by the traders community and the provincial govts, the sources said , adding, that govt wasn't expecting such kind of reaction from the shopkeepers and the provincial govts. The shopkeepers of all the busy shopping areas throughout the country did not close their shops by 9pm on Monday and continued their routine business for the second day after the passage of the deadline given by the govt. The sources said that the traders community as well as the provincial govt did not lend their helping hands to PEPCO in managing the demand and supply gap, which they said, was regularly on the increase. The sources said that the decision was to be effective without urban-rural discrimination under the existing Shop Act with the objective to manage power load and rid the people from loadshedding. However, medical stores, clinics, hospitals, bakeries were exempted from the load management restrictions. Under the load management plan, the industries were to operate under staggering hours. The sources pointed out that the plan aimed that lights of all neon signs would be switched off from 8 pm, however, the City District Govts stayed at a distance vis a vis implementing its own law despite the fact that the Governors and Chief Ministers of all the provinces had been taken into confidence on this National Energy Conservation Plan. The sources said that PEPCO got into trouble for supplying additional 240 mw to KESC, which was 500 mw earlier. The shopkeepers, on the other hand, have come up with a harsh stance. They were of the view that their working timings needed to be reviewed in a meaningful manner so that their interests could also be safeguarded. They said that they would resist any move aimed at adversely affecting their business. They were firm in their resolve with regard to resisting any govt scheme to launch any drastic action against them. However, the PEPCO officials are hopeful that the traders community would adhere to the conservation plan. They said that the customers had developed the habit of going for late shopping, which could not be changed in a day or two. They said that PEPCO also needed the City govt officials help in implementing the law for shops closure 9 pm. They said that PEPCO has also launched an awareness campaign to educate people about conserving electricity.