LAHORE - Duration of electricity loadshedding in Lahore crossed 10-hour a day with many areas hit by consecutive power cuts of two to three hours.

The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) faces 50 per cent gap between demand and supply compelling the power distributor to conduct average 13-hour shutdown in rural and urban limits.

However, it intentionally reduces duration of loadshedding for Lahore (10-hour) to avoid the media criticism which mainly focus the provincial metropolis.

Lesco also gives preference to some feeders fall under VVIP tag in power supply by making more cuts in underdeveloped and slum areas, says sources.

“The loadshedding is comparatively low in Model Town, DHA, Gulberg and other posh localities as compared to Allama Iqbal Town, Gulshan Ravi, Samanabad, Thoker Niaz Beg and Shahdrah areas,” said a company official seeking anonymity.

Sources in power sector said the other power distribution companies (Disc0s) also started conducting 12 to 13 hours shutdown in their limits as the energy basket was meeting half of its demand.

The Discos in Punjab, Lesco, Gepco, Fesco and Mepco, are conducing 13-hours loadshedding while the people of rural areas South Punjab, Interior Sindh, KPK and Balochistan are virtually living without electricity after the start of May.

The electricity generation is hovering around 12,000 mw against the demand of 18,000 mw.  The hydel generation touches 5,500MW while the rest is being shared by IPPs and govt- owned generation companies.  Around 2,000 mw from the available generation is fixed for VVIP feeders, strategic installations while the rest is being divided among the Discos.