Sweating it out: More hours without than with electricity

Protesters demand removal of Dobian SDO from his post

SWABI/ PESHAWAR: As the mercury goes up and electricity consumption increases, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) has also extended its load-shedding hours across the province.

The number of protests and rallies have also increased in direct proportion with power outages. The protesters either block roads or hold sit-ins outside Pesco offices or press clubs, exhibiting their distress on the situation.

“Our children are suffering. They go to school in wrinkled clothes. Extensive and unannounced load-shedding has created water shortages as well,” said Mohammad Javed, a resident of Landi Sarak on Charsadda Road. “I have not heard the Azaan for a long time because of these power outages.”

He said, “We pay bills regularly but controlling theft is Pesco’s responsibility because they get paid for it,” he said, refuting Pesco’s claim it carries out more load-shedding in areas where people do not pay their bills or pilfer electricity.

“I enter my house in the dark and leave it in dark. I two UPS to keep the bulbs lit up, but the UPS are not working because they’re not getting charged properly.”

Javed works in Qissa Khwani Bazaar where power outages are three-hours-long, though the shopkeepers there are happy with it.

Haji Akhtar, a resident of Afghan colony on Dalazak Road said they face 20-hour-long power cuts. “We get only four hours of electricity, in which we try to fill our water tanks and charge our cell phones,” Akhtar said. “Our children have become sick while Pesco and the chief minister claim they have freed hundreds of feeders from load-shedding. Where are those feeders?” he questioned. Akhtar added voltage is also low and affects electronic appliances.

Swabi

In Swabi, protesters blocked the road outside Dobian Grid Station because of a power outage which continued for 18 hours on Thursday.

They kept the road blocked for four hours and demanded the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) separate the power transmission lines of Tarakai from Dobian so the voltage problems get fixed. They also demanded the transfer of Dobian Sub-division Officer (SDO) from the post.

Newly-elected local government councillors also participated in the protests and were able to negotiate with police officials who assured the protesters the duration of outages would be reduced to eight hours. The Pesco spokesperson was not available for comments.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2015.