MANSEHRA: The Hazara Electric Supply Company (Hazesco) Workers’ Union has moved the Abbottabad Circuit Bench of the Peshawar High Court, seeking relief in power tariffs for the residents of the Hazara division.

“Our petition for tariff relief has been accepted for hearing,” chairman of Hazesco Workers’ Union Jamil Tanoli told reporters on Thursday.

He said the company’s board of directors and employees up to grade 16 should be appointed from the Hazara division.

Mr Tanoli said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had notified the company but some technical issues were unresolved.

“We want to get those issues resolved soon to benefit both domestic and commercial consumers,” he said.

Mr Tanoli said urged the federal government to separate Hazesco’s account and assets from the Peshawar Electric Supply Company for the smooth functioning of the new power utility.

“Wapda should first determine electricity quota for consumers in Hazara division under a set formula to ensure uninterrupted power supply,” he said.

He added that the union had approached the court to ensure that the royalty from hydropower projects was regularly paid for the people’s development as mandated by the Constitution.

“We have been striving to claim all legal and constitutional rights of the people, and this petition is part of such moves,” he said.

Mr Tanoli saidonce Hazesco becamefully functional, thousands of people from eight districts of Hazara Division would be inducted into it.

CAMPUS DEMANDED: Residents of Oghi on Thursday demanded the establishment of Hazara University’s campus in their tehsil.

“The government had approved the establishment of Hazara University’s campus in Oghi, and a building was even rented to launch five academic departments initially. However, the project was later scrapped, depriving local male and female students of higher education opportunities,” former deputy tehsil nazim of Oghi Hafiz Mohammad Yunus told reporters.

Accompanied by a group of locals, he said the PTI government, which often boasted about education reforms and achievements, scrapped such an important educational project.

“Local MPA and chairman of the District Development Advisory Committee Akram Ghazi should raise this issue on the floor of the assembly and with the chief minister for early action,” he said.

Mr Yunus said many students, especially girls, were unable to travel to other cities or towns for higher education after completing intermediate courses.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2025