Protesting farmers refuse to relent

ZAC underscores QESCO's failure in meeting the energy demands of growers and domestic consumers across Balochistan.

QUETTA:

The Balochistan Zamindar Action Committee (ZAC) intensified their protest outside the provincial assembly for the second consecutive day, rallying against the persistent and unannounced load shedding plaguing the province. Farmers, led by Malik Naseer Shahwani, a central figure in ZAC and former provincial assembly member from the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), are vehemently pressing the government to address their grievances.

The focal point of their agitation remains the restoration of consistent electricity supply to tube wells, crucial for irrigation in agricultural lands.

Expressing profound dissatisfaction with the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), the ZAC underscores its failure in meeting the energy demands of both growers and domestic consumers across Balochistan.

The repercussions of power outages during the cultivation season have been dire, amounting to significant financial losses running into billions for farmers province-wide. Haji Abdul Rehman Bazai, another prominent ZAC leader, asserts that QESCO’s negligence has exacerbated the plight of farmers, yet remains unaddressed by both relevant authorities and the provincial government.

Brandishing placards emblazoned with grievances against QESCO and the government, protesters resoundingly voice their discontent, decrying the government’s inefficacy in resolving the pressing issues.

The blockade of major roads outside the Balochistan Assembly serves as a tangible manifestation of their resolve and desperation for recourse.

In a bid to underscore the urgency of their demands, the ZAC leaders have vowed to prolong the protests indefinitely until tangible solutions are provided. Central to their demands is the swift execution of promises made by both federal and provincial governments to transition tube wells to solar power, offering a lasting solution to the persistent issue of load shedding.

Published in The Express Tribune May 11^th, 2024.