President Asif Ali Zardari steps forward on Wednesday. He directs officials to take every possible step that minimises loadshedding across the country. He issues the clear instruction while chairing a high-level meeting on water resources at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad. The president also addresses the current energy shortfall. This stems directly from the regional crisis.
Loadshedding Must Stay Transparent and Announced Ahead of Time
Zardari stresses that any load management must happen in a fully transparent manner. It must follow prior public announcements. He wants citizens to know exactly when and where outages will occur. This is so daily life faces less disruption. Moreover, the directive comes just one day after the government announced more than two hours of daily loadshedding during peak evening hours. Officials took this step to avoid a sudden sharp rise in electricity tariffs. The Power Division explains that peak demand surges between 5pm and 1am. This happens mainly because hydropower output has dropped. Relying on expensive fuels right now would push bills higher for everyone. So the government chooses controlled outages instead.
Water Weaponisation Raises Fresh Alarm
At the same meeting the president voices serious concern over India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. He calls it an attempt to weaponise water. He urges swift action on water conservation nationwide. He pushes for faster rollout of rainwater harvesting at homes, offices and factories. In addition, he calls for quicker construction of small dams, recharge wells and new storage facilities. Zardari describes water conservation as a national imperative at this critical time. He also notes that stability in the wider region remains essential. He expresses confidence that Pakistan’s continued diplomatic efforts will help find a workable path forward in the evolving Iran situation.
