- Govt says imperative to suspend power.
- They say if not suspended, rate will rise.
- Strait closure leads to energy crisis.
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has announced loadshedding of more than two hours during “peak hours” and warned that the nation should be ready to brace for an increase in electricity prices.
The major move comes as the world grapples with an energy crisis following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US-Israel strikes, sending governments scrambling to conserve power.
In a statement, the Power Division’s spokesperson said that in light of the situation, the government has decided that from 5pm to 1am (peak hours), electricity supply will be suspended for nearly 2:30 hours daily.
The rationale, the spokesperson explained, was that the government aims to minimise the use of expensive fuel and prevent the possible increase in electricity prices.
The spokesperson added that at present, the “biggest challenge” the government faces is during peak hours, where there is a significant increase in electricity demand, particularly because these days, the production of hydel power plants has decreased substantially.
“If expensive fuel is relied upon to meet these requirements, it can lead to a considerable increase in electricity prices,” the spokesperson said, further explaining the reason behind the loadshedding.
