Prolonged power outages affect businesses in Mansehra

MANSEHRAN: The prolonged and unscheduled power outages of around 16 hours a day has affected the businesses and daily life in the city and its suburbs.

“Our businesses, which have already been reeling because of the effects of the coronavirus, are now totally smashed owing to the prolonged power outages. We would come onto the streets and observe a complete shutter down strike if the load shedding continues,” Sheikh Kamran, the president of the trader’s body, told reporters on Tuesday.

Kamran said that traders at a meeting decided to stage a protest and block the main Abbottabad road to traffic on July 16.

He added that their protest would be against Peshawar Electric Supply Company and shortage of water in the city and its suburbs.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet members make the tall claims that there is no loadshedding in the country but the current prolonged load shedding has broken all the previous records,” Mohammad Ajmal, a resident of Chennai area, told reporters.

He said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government, which had failed to address the high inflation and other issues, seemed helpless to supply electricity to consumers.

“The people would also join the protest demonstration being held against Pesco and water shortage by the business community on July 16,” Ajmal added.