Shinkiari residents threaten strike over prolonged power outages

MANSEHRA: The residents, local government representatives and traders from Shinkiari, on Sunday announced a shutter-down strike and a blockade of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) in protest against the prolonged and unscheduled power outages.

“We will observe a complete shutter-down strike and block the KKH to protest the daylong power outages,” Sardar Shah Khan, the tehsil chairman of Baffa-Pakhal, told a meeting attended by people from various walks of life at a local high school in Shinkiari.

The meeting which was widely attended by traders, local government representatives, transporters, and members from other segments decided to take to the streets to block the KKH and observe a shutter-down strike.

“We have been facing daylong power outages since long. We have raised this issue with the high-ups at the Peshawar Electric Supply Company, but they have failed to take any action,” Shabbir Khan Swati, the chairman of the Shinkiari Neighbourhood Council, told the meeting.

Arsalan Khan, the president of the central traders’ body in Shinkiari, highlighted the impact of power outages on businesses.“The PESCO often suspends electricity supply for the entire day under the pretext of repairing transmission lines and trimming tree branches along the Karakoram Highway and other local roads. These prolonged outages have severely affected our businesses,” he added. The meeting was also addressed by Sum Allai Mung Village Council chairman, Shahzada Umar Haroon and others.