PHC asks Pesco to stop extra loadshedding

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the Peshawar Electric Supply Company authorities to stop extra loadshedding in the province and strictly follow the announced formula in all areas of the province. In a detailed judgment on Friday, a two-member bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Musarrat Hilali issued the directives to the Pesco authorities to strictly follow the announced loadshedding formula or else they would be held accountable for any extra loadshedding in the province. The court issued the orders in a writ petition of an electricity consumer from Peshawar, Noorul Islam, filed against the excessive loadshedding in the province. The petitioner submitted that the Pesco was discriminating against the electricity consumers as in some areas it was carrying out loadshedding as per the formula, but in certain areas of the city the outage was 10 to 15 hours. On the other hand Pesco lawyer, Asad Jan and Deputy Director Pesco, Masood Khan informed the bench that the Pesco had prepared a formula for loadshedding. He said massive loadshedding was being carried out in those areas known for power theft. The court, however, rejected the formula and directed the authorities to carry out uniform loadshedding across the province.