Prolonged power outages: LG reps, traders in Shinkiari threaten to take to streets

MANSEHRA: The members of civil society organisations, traders, and local government representatives on Saturday announced to stage protests and file a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court against prolonged and unscheduled power outages in the Shinkiari and its suburban areas.

“Besides scheduled load-shedding, Peshawar Electric Supply Company has been suspending electricity supply for entire days, affecting both domestic and commercial consumers, which is unacceptable to us at any cost,” Ahsan Ellahi, president of the Shinkiari traders’ body, told reporters.

Flanked by Advocate Waqarul Muluk, he said residents were facing full-day power cuts every alternate day under the pretext of transmission line maintenance and trimming of tree branches along the Karakoram Highway and adjoining roads. “Our businesses, most of which depend heavily on electricity, have been adversely affected and are barely running at break-even,” he added.

Ahsan Allahi said high inflation has already affected their business, and they could no longer bear the impact of these disruptive outages.

Adnan Tariq Khan, a former district council member, said that in the ongoing heatwave, residents, particularly women and children, were suffering from various health issues. “Without electricity, water supply systems such as tube wells and pumps cannot operate, leaving entire communities without drinking water,” he said.

Manzoor Mughan, chairman of the Zakat Committee Shinkiari, said that despite assurances by Pesco officials to resolve the issue, no relief had been provided.

“People here pay over 99 per cent of their electricity bills, yet they have been facing prolonged outages,” he remarked.

Speaking on the occasion, Advocate Waqarul Muluk confirmed that they were preparing a writ petition against Pesco officials.