KOHAT: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company supported by the district administration and the police on Wednesday launched a crackdown on power thieves, registering cases against 18 for using electricity illegally.

Additional assistant commissioner-III Saad Munir and Pesco sub-divisional officer Wajidullah accompanied by policemen took action against power thieves on Rawalpindi highway, in Bilitang and the city. They also recovered Rs118,000 dues from the defaulters. They registered five FIRs against the thieves.

Meanwhile, Pesco executive engineer for city division Fida Mohammad, sub-divisional officer Ziaur Rehman, additional assistant commissioner-II Vaqas Ahmed removed seven illegal connections in Shinokhel and Hafizabad areas and lodged seven FIRs against the electricity thieves.

Similarly, additional assistant commissioner-I Nisar Mohammad Khalil and Pesco SDO Farooq during an operation removed six kundas from poles in the area and registered cases against the power thieves.

The district administration on Wednesday banned the entry of visitors to the popular Bona Baba springs, the adjacent swimming pools and mountains from 9pm till 5am to avoid an unpleasant incident.

SHO Junglekhel police Mohammad Vaqas told Dawn that the step had been taken as a precautionary measure as bodies had been found in the area recently. He said it was not easy to reach the area immediately during the night in case of an untoward incident.

He said women and children often visited the site, which was adjacent to the Afghan refugee camps, for picnic. He said mostly non-locals visited the site and there was always a danger of fights.

PEOPLE’S PROBLEMS: The newly-posted Kohat deputy commissioner Furqan Ashraf paid a visit to the district secretariat on Wednesday and issued orders to the heads of departments to immediately resolve problems of people.

He took a round of all the departments and met with the officials and asked about their work. He also listened to the visitors to acquaint himself with their grievances, especially regarding social welfare, zakat and other departments.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2022