Energy crisis: PTI workers among others protest over load-shedding

Consumers accuse PESCO officials of stealing electricity.

SHABQADAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers protested against load-shedding and inflated bills outside the office of Peshawar Electric Supply Corporation (Pesco) on Monday and blocked the road for three hours.

Since the onset of winter, areas in Shabqadar have been facing up to 20 hours of power outages due to which residents are also bearing severe water shortages.

Led by PTI MPA Muhammad Arif, protesters blocked the main Peshawar-Shabqadar Road from 9am till noon, while all adjoining roads were also blockaded. The workers staged a sit-in outside the XEN office in Pahlawan Qilla and shouted slogans against Pesco officials of Shabqadar grid station. They accused the officials of stealing electricity from residential areas and providing it to marble factories while residents pay increased bills.

In his address, Arif said officials complain of low recovery while they receive bills regularly. He said there are 20 feeders under the grid station, but they still have to suffer 20 hours of load-shedding. “The factories, however, are exempted from it.”

He said the centre is claiming there is no load-shedding for common consumers, but the opposite is taking place. He added Pesco announced amnesty schemes, but later on added the amount with increased surcharge on their bills.

The protesters dispersed after local administration official Javed khan and DSP Saleem Riaz along with XEN Arif Hussain assured protesters of addressing their grievances. The protesters then gave a three-day deadline and warned of a longer protest if the matter was not resolved.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2013.