NEW DELHI: Residents of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province thronged the Hazar Kaugrid power station on Saturday to take power back into their own hands after enduring a prolonged blackout due to scorching heat, Geo News reported.
The protest, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Fazal Elahi, saw people trespassing on power lines despite heavy police security.
“If our electricity is cut, everyone’s electricity is cut,” Elahi said. According to Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) officials, the protesters forced on nine high-loss feeders, including Yaka Tut, Hazar Khawani, Akhnabad and New Chamkani, where losses due to power theft and non-payment exceed 80 percent.
Additionally, Lahore residents are also suffering from unannounced power outages, with some areas experiencing one-hour continuous blackouts every hour during the day. Lahore’s power demand is 4,200MW, but its allocation is 4,000MW. The fire at Sabzazar Grid Power Plant has further exacerbated the situation, putting strain on other systems as well.
Earlier on May 15, women and residents of Chhota Lahore area of Swabi in Dera Ismail Khan blocked roads to protest against prolonged power outage lasting more than 20 hours a day. The protesters expressed their dissatisfaction with political leaders who made promises during the election campaign but did not address the power issue after winning. They held these representatives accountable and vowed not to vote for them in the upcoming elections.
The protest, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Fazal Elahi, saw people trespassing on power lines despite heavy police security.
“If our electricity is cut, everyone’s electricity is cut,” Elahi said. According to Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) officials, the protesters forced on nine high-loss feeders, including Yaka Tut, Hazar Khawani, Akhnabad and New Chamkani, where losses due to power theft and non-payment exceed 80 percent.
Additionally, Lahore residents are also suffering from unannounced power outages, with some areas experiencing one-hour continuous blackouts every hour during the day. Lahore’s power demand is 4,200MW, but its allocation is 4,000MW. The fire at Sabzazar Grid Power Plant has further exacerbated the situation, putting strain on other systems as well.
Earlier on May 15, women and residents of Chhota Lahore area of Swabi in Dera Ismail Khan blocked roads to protest against prolonged power outage lasting more than 20 hours a day. The protesters expressed their dissatisfaction with political leaders who made promises during the election campaign but did not address the power issue after winning. They held these representatives accountable and vowed not to vote for them in the upcoming elections.
