Prolonged power outages have brought life in Swat to a standstill, with power cuts exceeding 20 hours in a day. This in turn, has caused water scarcity and people have to fetch water from far-off places, spending money and wasting time.
Some of the areas facing water issues depend upon electricity for their water supply lines. “We bring water from the Swat River in Suzuki pickups. This costs us Rs500 per trip. To commute back and forth doubles the fare to Rs1,000 daily,” Riaz Khan, a resident of Khwaja Abad village, told The Express Tribune.
Majority of villagers are poor, belonging to the labour class and cannot afford to hire vehicles for fetching water. “We don’t have money for our daily necessities so we cover a distance of two kilometres on foot. Life has become tiresome,” Nasib Jan, a labourer, said.
Mosques, too, are feeling the brunt. “We hear announcements about mosques having no water and that people should come to mosques with ablution,” said Ziad Ali, a resident of Rang Mohallah. “There is no water even for worshippers. [The entire situation] is a shame,” he added.
Moreover, craftspersons, artisan and workers whose work depends on electricity, are facing manifold problems. “Our businesses have completely stopped. We are forced to borrow money from our families. This month, I haven’t been able to sew a single suit,” said Khyal Mohammad, a tailor in Faizabad area.
“The government should take care of us and should release enough electricity so that we can earn our livelihoods,” he appealed.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2012.
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