BATTAGRAM: People faced severe hardships during Eid days in Battagram district as duration of power loadshedding was extended to 18 hours daily.

The prolonged power loadshedding affected the Eid festivities while the district was also hit hard by shortage of drinking water. The power supply remained suspended for two consecutive days despite the fact that government had announced to ensure smooth supply of electricity to people during Eid days.

Yasir, a local, told Dawn that no relief was witnessed in the power loadshedding as its duration was extended to 18 to 20 hours a day.

Mohammad Irfan,a nother resident of the district, also criticised the government. He said that the government was required to provide relief to people during Eid days but it failed to do so.

The elders of Deshan area of Battagram gathered in district headquarters on the second day of Eid and staged a protest against Wapda for carrying out prolonged power loadshedding.

The protesters were addressed ny Anwar Baig, Molana Khushed and other local elders. The protesters decided to remove their electricity meters if uninterrupted power supply was not restored to the district till Monday morning.

They said that they suffered a lot owing to power loadshedding. They said that they were not ready to pay inflated bills without getting supply of electricity.

The protesters said that Wapda officials and district administration during several meetings made lame excuses about defaulters in the area They said that the people, who were regularly paying their monthly bills, had a right to get electricity.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2023