Winter woes: Minus eight in Kalat with no gas, power

Balochistan Levies official expresses his anger over the lack of facilities

KALAT: The Kalat district of Balochistan witnessed record low temperature of minus eight degree Celsius on Wednesday compounding the hardships of people left shivering without gas and electricity for the past one week. “There is no gas or electricity in Kalat for the past one week,” said Mohammed Anwar sitting with a group of people around fire on a street corner in Kalat city. An official of Balochistan Levies also expressed his anger over the lack of facilities. “Kalat is the coldest place in Balochistan, but we never get gas in winter,” he said mumbling through layers of muffler and shawl over a heavy coat, while standing on guard duty at a picket. However, the gas supply to parts of Quetta was partially restored on Wednesday after remaining suspended for four days.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2014.