The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) issued on Thursday a power suspension programme for Friday (today) for various areas of its region due to maintenance and routine development work.

According to IESCO spokesperson, the power supply of different feeders and grid stations would remain suspended for the period from 07:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, Rawalpindi City Circle, Sarafa Bazar, City, Fawara Chowk, DHQ, Iqbal Road-II, Liaqat Bagh, Muislam Town, G-15 Feeders, Jhelum Circle, Bahi Khan, Kalya, Pind Matta Khan Feeders and surrounding areas.

On Wednesday, the Punjab government withdrew the Rs14 per unit electricity subsidy for consumers in the Islamabad Capital Territory, yielding to pressure from the International Monetary Fund.

Residents of Islamabad city and surrounding areas would receive their electricity bills at the newly increased rates, which the federal government had implemented starting July 1 to meet IMF conditions.

The federal government had raised electricity prices by up to 51% in order to satisfy the IMF’s requirements, yet still struggled to secure loan approval.