BATTAGRAM: The prolonged power outages were reported in Battagram, Haripur and Lower Dir districts with the people threatening to stage rallies and block roads against the Pesco.

The residents of Battagram insisted that they’re subjected to the suspension of electric supply for around 18 hours daily.

They also complained about low voltage.

Residents warn they’ll stage rallies, block roads against Pesco

The residents said the excessive power cuts were reported in Ajmera, Battagram, Paimal Sharif, Peshora and Gijbori areas.

They warned if the Pesco didn’t check unscheduled power cuts, they would block the Karakoram Highway.

The residents said the excessive power suspension had badly affected businesses.

They said the company was ‘systemically’ suspending electricity for long hours to hide massive power theft in certain areas.

The residents also accused the Pesco’s meter readers of shirking duty and said the company’s staff members didn’t regularly visit the areas to record meter readings.

They said the energy crisis had virtually paralysed life.

Farooq Khan, a shopkeeper from Ajmera village, said the locals had demonstrated many times and formally put up requests to the authorities for smooth electric supply, but to no avail.

Carpenter Mohammad Farhad said the Pesco stressed out the people by suspending electricity for long hours on one hand and issuing inflated power bills on the other. Hairdresser Jahanzeb complained about the unscheduled loadshedding and low voltage and said the situation had rendered water pumps out of use and thus, causing water shortage. He said the people had to fetch water from distant areas. The local resident demanded of the Pesco to ensure sure smooth supply of power and fix voltage issue.

PROTEST: An angry mob blocked the Khanpur-Taxila Road here on Tuesday during a protest against excessive loadshedding and low voltage in Tarnawa village.

The local residents said the protesters, including women, suspended traffic for over two hours, and dispersed only after PML-N MNA Babar Nawaz accompanied by police officials showed up and promised the corrective measures in two days.

The protesters said the energy crisis had created water shortage in the area forcing women and children to fetch water from faraway places. They said their repeated requests to the authorities for corrective steps fell on deaf ears.

ROAD BLOCKADE THREATENED: The people of Rabat and Samar Bagh areas of Lower Dir district on Tuesday resented that frequent power outages and low voltage.

The Rabat residents warned they would block the Timergara-Chitral Road if unscheduled and prolonged power outage didn’t end until next Friday.

They said the government had announced smooth electric supply during ‘Sehr’ and ‘Iftar’ hours but there was no action on the announcement in Lower Dir.

Earlier, the elders, political parties, Pesco officials and local administration members met here in Samar Bagh area at the office of assistant commissioner Noorul Amin to discuss plan load management.

Pesco SDO Idrees Khan said it was difficult for the company to smoothly provide electricity to all subdivisions in Lower Dir.

He suggested that the entire area be divided into three zones with each zone getting electricity for eight hours daily.

The JI supported the proposal, while the PTI rejected it and walked out of the meeting.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2018