Pesco agrees to reduce loadshedding after threat of polio boycott

TAKHTBHAI: The threat of polio anti-vaccination boycott by local residents forced the authorities of power supply company to reduce the hours of electricity loadshedding conditionally.

During the grand jirga held on Sunday, the representatives were informed about the terms of the negotiations with the power supply company and a decision about whether to maintain or withdraw the polio boycott would be made in consultation with the jirga members.Earlier, negotiations had been held at the office of Assistant Commissioner Junaid Khalid between Pesco officials and the members of the grand jirga.

Participants included Additional Assistant Commissioner Fazlur Rehman, SDO Pesco Takhtbhai-I Muhammad Zaib, SDO-II Afrasiab Khan, grand jirga convener and Jamaat-e-Islami PK-60 president Nauman Yousaf, general secretary Islamuddin, president of Takhtbhai Press Club Muslim Khan Sabir, former chairman Javed Alam Mohmand and journalists Izzat Muhammad Khpalwak, Ibrahim Syed Yousafzai among others.

Pesco officials said that most feeders in Takhtbhai were heavily burdened with outstanding dues and illegal connections, which forced them to carry out loadshedding. However, grand jirga representatives said that some urban feeders had been deliberately linked with defaulting rural feeders. They pointed out that urban consumers had a 90 percent recovery rate, yet they were unfairly punished due to others’ default and termed it a serious injustice.

After extensive discussions, the Pesco officials conditionally agreed to reduce loadshedding.AC Junaid urged Pesco officials to provide maximum relief to the people and end unnecessary loadshedding to prevent unrest and possible law and order issues.He also appealed for the successful execution of the upcoming polio campaign starting today.