Protests staged against excessive power outages

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Qaumi Jirga staged a protest outside the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) Headquarters on Monday against unannounced and frequent power cuts in the provincial capital.

Arbab Khizer Hayat, a spokesperson for the jirga and Khalid Ayub, chairman, led the protest. The protesters gathered at the Pesco Headquarters for quite some time to register anger at the excessive power outages. The speakers said the government had failed to provide relief to the people in the hot summer.

They said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produced surplus electricity but its residents were still facing prolonged loadshedding, which was sheer injustice.

There were talks between the jirga leaders and the Pesco officials. The latter assured the former that they would improve the power supply situation and address the issues of inflated billing. The protesters dispersed after receiving the assurance.

Our correspondent adds from Timergara: The residents of Khall and Timergara on Monday staged a protest against unannounced and prolonged power outages.

They blocked the main Dir-Timergara road near Khall Japani Pul for all kinds of traffic for more than two hours. The angry protesters chanted slogans against the elected members of the area and Wapda.

Meanwhile, the residents of Balambat also staged a protest rally against long power breakdown in the area. Addressing the protesters in Khall, Akhundzada Sikandar and others said that unannounced power breakdown had made life miserable for them.

They said the students spent sleepless nights and attempted papers during the day without taking rest. The protesters said the people would not tolerate unjustified power breakdown any more.