MANSEHRA: People took to the streets in Lassan Nawab and Oghi areas here on Tuesday, complaining about prolonged power outages and inflated bills.

They demanded immediate corrective measures by the power utility.

The protesters marched through bazaars in Lassan Nawab before converging on the central point.

They shouted slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply over the excessive power cuts amid hot and humid weather and demanded the intervention of the prime minister for necessary action.

A speaker said the residents were subjected to power suspension for over 14 hours daily but even then, Pesco sent inflated bills to them.

Demand PM’s intervention for corrective steps

Meanwhile, residents of Karori, Jandi Seir, Haryala and adjoining areas also marched on the roads in Oghi and demanded immediate end to the prolonged power outages.

Raising “inflated” power bills in the air, they demanded withdrawal of surcharges and taxes on electricity consumption.

ENCROACHMENTS: The Oghi tehsil municipal administration on Tuesday began a campaign against encroachments and removed illegal structures.

It also arrested three encroachers for taking the law into their own hands by creating hurdles to the anti-encroachment operation, according to tehsil municipal officer Amir Shahzad.

He told reporters that the TMA’s anti-encroachment squad backed by the police shifted the remains of illegal structures, handcarts and other material to its godowns.

The police arrested three encroachers for resisting the crackdown.

“We’ve removed all temporary and permanent encroachments causing traffic jams and warned traders against allowing street vendors to display their goods outside their shops and business centres,” he said.

Mr Shahzad said the anti-encroachment drive would continue.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati on Tuesday said the government was taking tangible measures to improve the economy and thus, benefiting residents.

“We have approved over Rs1.2 trillion budget for this year with over 55 per cent of it being allocated for the payment of salary to government employees,” Mr Swati told a public meeting in Baffa town here.

He said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur would visit Mansehra on July 5 and address a large public meeting planned as part of the party’s “Free Imran” campaign.

The speaker said the government in the province was taking austerity measures to cut its expenses and utilise such funds for people’s welfare.

PTI provincial deputy president Kamal Saleem Swati said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur would announce mega development projects for the district.

He said the chief minister had finalised the government’s memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia for the Rs19 billion Gravity Water Supply Scheme.

Mr Kamal said the project would address decades old water shortages in Mansehra city and adjoining areas.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2024