KOHAT: A large number of people demonstrated against power and gas outages at the Martyrs Square here on Sunday.

Civil society activists, traders, local body members, and general consumers participated in the protest.

The protesters raised slogans against the officials of Pesco, SNGPL, the district administration and local lawmakers.

Patron-in-chief of southern CNG filling stations association, Haji Islam, who was leading the protesters, said according to an order of the Peshawar High Court the gas-producing district had the first right over the commodity, and after fulfilling its own requirements gas could be supplied to other areas.

He claimed that problem of low gas pressure could be addressed if half of gas produced in Kohat was provided to its people. “But due to criminal silence of the lawmakers and SNGPL, gas is provided to Punjab on a priority basis,” he regretted.

Shah Mehmood, another protest leader, said even after the closure of CNG stations domestic consumers continued to face low gas pressure.

He said gas supply disappeared at 9pm and continued till morning.

The protesters also criticised Pesco officials for failing to replace the ceased transformers in urban as well rural areas.

They said the residents also braved unscheduled electricity loadshedding amid gas outages.

Meanwhile, the protesters ended the agitation after Pesco executive engineer, SNGPL and district administration officials held talks with them, assuring that electricity outages and low gas pressure would be done away with.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2022