Traders in Oghi observe shutdown against power outages

MANSEHRA: Traders in Oghi observed a shutdown strike on Tuesday to protest against the prolonged and unscheduled power outages in the city and its suburbs.

“We have held talks with the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and even with the tehsil administration, demanding an end to the daylong suspension of power under the guise of repairing and trimming tree branches along roadsides, but to no avail,” Attaullah Tanoli, the president of the traders’ body, told protesters.

Shops and business centres in the city and its surrounding areas remained closed throughout the day. The traders staged a sit-in at Milad Chowk.

The protesters chanted slogans against the government, the Pesco, and WAPDA.

“Our businesses are being affected because of the daylong power outages on the pretext of maintenance of transmission lines and trimming of tree branches along the Oghi-Mansehra and other roads,” Tanoli said.

He added that the deputy commissioner had directed the Pesco Executive Engineer (WEN) in Mansehra to meet traders and resolve the issue, but no action was taken.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Shahzada Gustasab Khan assured the protesters that he would raise the issue of daylong power outages in the National Assembly.

“The federal government has failed to address the power outage issue, and I will ensure this matter is discussed on the assembly floor,” he said.

Darband Tehsil Chairman, Dilbar Tanoli, told the protesters that traders and local government representatives had earlier held talks with senior Pesco officials in the presence of the assistant commissioner of Oghi, but they were still facing daylong outages.

Assistant Commissioner Fahad Zia, Pesco officials, and police high-ups held talks in the evening with representatives of the traders’ body in the presence of MNA Shahzada Gustasab Khan to address the issue.