June 15, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 29, 1428

MULTAN, June 14: The Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) has increased the duration of loadshedding from six to nine hours in several areas, while angry traders say they will not pay electricity bills if Mepco continues loadshedding.

The reaction came after months of frequent and prolonged power breakdowns in the city.

Haji Razzaq, a resident of the Gulgasht Colony, said: “Mepco’s poor performance has forced people to take alternative measures to generate electricity, but it is quite difficult for the salaried class to buy generators.”

Mahnoor, a housewife from the walled city, said the government was solely responsible for a power crisis in the city. “High-ups in the government should think of the people living in congested areas without electricity and scant water supply,” she said.

Nasreen of the Shah Rukn-i-Alam Colony, who had returned home from a hospital a few days ago after a kidney operation, was literally crying on the phone when she complained about the prolonged loadshedding.

“What will we do with the increase in the gross domestic product if the government cannot provide us electricity?” she said. She urged the authorities concerned to take note of the situation.

Khwaja Shafique of the Anjuman Tajiran said traders would seek legal action against Mepco over frequent power breakdowns.

He threatened that the traders would not pay electricity bills and take out protest demonstrations if Mepco continued loadshedding.

Qaumi Tajir Ittehad vice-president Faheem Mushtaq said the loadshedding was causing traders heavy losses.

Dies: Khidmat-i-Insaniyat Party Secretary-General Maulana Muhammad Ayoob Khayaat passed away here on Thursday.