MANSEHRA: The Wapda Hydro Workers’ Union on Tuesday demanded of the government to link Kohistan region with the newly-created Hazara Electric Supply Company (Hazesco) in line with the announcement of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and warned if that didn’t happen, it would give a call for street protests.

“Hazesco has formally launched operations but Upper and Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas aren’t covered by it. This act is unacceptable to us and should be corrected otherwise we will protest,” Hazesco Hydro Workers’ Union leader Jamil Akhtar Tanoli told reporters here.

He said the people and union workers, who had worked for decades to create Hazesco, demanded the new power utility to cover the entire Hazara Division but its board of directors began operations in Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Battagram and Torghar districts only.

“Kohistan region is part of Hazara Division and we won’t allow anybody to exclude it from Hazesco’s coverage,” he said.

Mr Tanoli said people of Hazara Division had been demanding royalty for their hydropower projects and if the Kohistan region wasn’t covered by Hazesco,

those three districts would be deprived of those payments.

“We want tariff relief as well as employment as electricity is produced from water but if Kohistan is out of Hazesco’s domain, then the residents won’t get those financial benefits,” he said.

The union leader said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced that the new power company would cover the entire Hazara Region.

He said lawmakers from across Hazara Division should take up the issue with the prime minister for corrective measures otherwise people would take to the streets to claim their rights.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2024