Water shortage triggers protest

MANSEHRA: The ulema, traders and civil society members on Friday staged protest against the shortage of potable water and current spate of the prolonged power outage in the city and its suburbs.

Holding banners and placards, the protesters marched through various roads and assembled at the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat Chowk.

Speaking on the occasion, the speakers criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for its failure to address the potable water issue in Mansehra city.

“The shortage of potable water is a chorionic issue but none of the successive governments and lawmakers tried to solve the issue.

“The underground water level has dropped alarmingly and there is a severe water shortage in the area,” said Maulana Hafeezur Rehman, the prayer leader of the central mosque in the city.

He said that they had planned a series of protests to compel the government to execute the Rs5 billion gravity water flow schemes.

Speaking on the occasion, Saeed Khan, president of the traders’ body, said that the prolonged power outage was also one of the major reasons behind the scarcity of the water.

“Our business activities have adversely affected because of the current spate of the prolonged power outages,” said Khan.