Load shedding

Introduction:
Load shedding happens when there is shortage of
electricity to meet the demand of all customers and an
electricity (public) utility will interrupt the energy supply
and demand. Modern lives will be impossible without
electric energy. It has now become the basic need of our
lives. In homes, shops, offices, industries, electricity is
needed to run many appliances.
Pakistan is rich in natural resources and seventh Atomic
Power of world but unfortunately, Pakistan today, is
suffering from many crises and load shedding is one of
them. The problem of load shedding exists since last ten
years of Pakistan. Now the shortfall is touching alarming
level of about 8000 megawatt.

Causes of load shedding in Pakistan:

The electricity crises in Pakistan are getting worse day by
day. There are several causes for this crisis as follows:

Shortage of water in rivers:

In the last few years Pakistan has gone into third lean
period. Due to which the water has become short in
rivers. Rainfall is low and therefore the water crisis occurs
which leads to electricity crises because of the production
of electricity by using water.

Overpopulation:
One of the major causes of load shedding is the
unbalanced growth rate of Pakistan. When there is a huge
demand for electricity that exceeds the population
available then load shedding is done to save the
electricity.

Low generation of electricity:

1.Thermal Power:
We do not have enough facilities for thermal power.
The setting up of thermal power station is highly
expensive for a developing country like ours.
2.Nuclear Power:
We do not have enough nuclear power stations
because of our dependence on hydro electric power
and lack of equipment and materials. Pakistans
nuclear power generation has a capacity of 425MW.

Fewer Dams:
We have not constructed as many dams as we need
hence the water cannot be stored in them and it is
wasted. The Kalabagh dam, the Bhasha dam in the
northern areas on the Indus River are still incomplete.
These dams can overcome the load shedding problem.

Power theft:
Besides government, the consumers are also responsible
for increasing load shedding who are involved in power
theft and non-payment of bills.

Corruption:
The huge payments were also being made to power
producers in the name of capacity payments but no result
is seen which is highly questionable and full of corruption.

Effects of load shedding:

Effects of electricity crisis in Pakistan are immense and
massive in number. It has affected the lives of people
very badly. It has negative social, psychological and
economical effects

Social Effects:
1.Affect on students:
Due to massive load shedding, students are unable to
study with full concentration. Every person could not
afford to buy UPS or generator and therefore most of
the students suffer the load shedding hours. Their
progress get ruined. Majority of students study in the
candle light or in dim light
2.Darkness in the society:
The houses not only groomed and drown into darkness
but also the streets and roads. Due to which the
passers-by could not cross the street easily. The old
people suffer most due to darkness.
3.Death occurs:
In heat stroke, people are already being suffering from
the scorching heat of sun and the load shedding makes

their lives more miserable. The patients, children and

old people mostly die during load shedding hours.
4.Shortage of water:
The prolonged load shedding causes shortage of water.
As there is no electricity hence electric water motor
could not run. This is very big problem. People suffer
this mostly, without water the housewives are more
disturbed.
5.Difficulty in praying:
As we are Muslims we pray five times a day. Nowadays
a great difficulty occurs in praying due to load
shedding. In Ramadan, instead of decreasing load
shedding it is increased which is great trouble.
6.Less sleep hours:
People cannot get enough comforts of life. A person
has to take eight hours of sleep a day. Their sleeping
schedule is disturbed because in most areas the load
shedding hours are from 1:00 am to 3:00 am. They
could not sleep in these hours.
7.Affect on patients in hospitals:
The patients suffer most when load shedding happens
in hospitals and if there is no proper system of
generators, operations delay, treatments delay, and as
a result of which patients die.