Overdue: Lights out at FATA Secretariat

PK-6 MPA Fazal Elahi leads protest outside Wapda House against power outages.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) suspended power to the FATA Secretariat after the institution failed to pay the dues of community tube wells in the frontier regions.

According to secretariat officials, Pesco suspended electricity early Monday morning after which the secretariat faced immense problems as all official work was carried out by using generators.

“The explanation they gave was that dues were pending against the community tube wells since 2000 but the fact is that it is the responsibility of the residents to pay electricity charges,” said an official, requesting anonymity. He said Pesco wants the FATA Secretariat to pay the outstanding amount but it cannot do so, adding electricity has been suspended unlawfully and they would approach the court in this regard.

When contacted, Pesco spokesperson Shaukat Afzal said Rs113 million were pending against the community tube wells and as it was the FATA Secretariat which approved the project, Pesco suspended power supply to it.

Outrage over power cuts

Workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from the city’s PK-6 constituency on Monday held a protest against prolonged and unscheduled power outages.

A rally, led by MPA Fazal Elahi and other local party members, concluded outside the Wapda House on Shami Road and converted into a public meeting, presided over by Elahi.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at the venue after announcements were made through loudspeakers of mosques.

Addressing participants, the MPA alleged that Pesco was carrying out 16 to 20 hours of load-shedding on a daily basis and supplying electricity with low voltage otherwise.

He said due to prolonged load-shedding the people of the area face immense difficulties.

“If there is power theft in my area, why is Pesco not installing meters for which I have been running from pillar to post for the past year?” questioned Elahi. He asked television channels to arrange a face-off between him and those responsible for disconnecting power so the public can know the truth.

Later, speaking to protesters, Pesco operations chief Nadeem Anwar urged residents of PK-6 to pay their electricity bills on time and not use electricity via illegal connections.

He said if the MPA assures the company that electricity bills would be paid on time, then load-shedding would also be reduced.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2014.