FAISALABAD, Pakistan — Mohammad Rafiq has worked in Pakistan’s weaving factories for 35 years, minding the looms that turn thread into cotton fabric. But lengthy power cuts often leave him and his fellow workers idle and losing wages.
Outages of up to 18 hours a day are threatening the government’s credibility at a time when the U.S. is pressing it to step up its fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
Mindful that a bad economy could mean more recruits to the militant cause, the United States has pledged $1 billion to improve the power supply, including upgrading thermal and hydropower plants as well as modernizing distribution.
Unless things improve, “I’m afraid I’ll lose my job and the owner will close the factory,” said Rafiq, 52. “I’ll have no future.”
The shortfall is estimated at 4,000 megawatts, one-fourth of maximum capacity, and practically no one in the nation of 180 million can escape the outages. They disrupt work. They shut down fans and air conditioning. Urban dwellers often return to a dark home, unable to watch a cricket match on TV or have a cold drink. The blackouts are even worse in villages.
The summer, when temperatures can reach 122 degrees, has only just started, and already rallies against blackouts are drawing hundreds of protesters. Some have turned violent, smashing cars and property.
Things will soon get better as new power plants come on line, said Tahir Basharat Cheema, managing director of Pakistan Electric Power Co., but he makes no excuses for the state-run company’s failures.
“I’ll be very, very frank: Electricity should be available, and it should be available all the time,” he said. “I apologize to the people like anything because it has been people like us who have missed the bus, who haven’t really done their work at the right time.”
