March 20, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 11, 1429

DADU, March 19: A rally was taken out in protest against Hesco Operation Division Dadu for carrying out unscheduled seven to eight hours loadshedding daily by a large number of consumers, social workers and activists of political parties.

They marched on different roads and held demonstration outside the press club which resulted in suspension of traffic for two hours.

Niaz Ahmed Channa said Hesco officials provide illegal connections to factory owners after taking bribes. He alleged Hesco officials had fixed monthly amount from factories and to cover line losses they issue inflated bills to consumers.

Nadeem Ahmed Ghaloo said seven to eight hours of loadshedding was affecting the business and routine life in Dadu. He said he visited Superintending Engineer and Executive Engineer’s office for correction of bills but they refused to meet.

He said Dadu and Mehar operation divisions were facing losses of millions of rupees while victimizing poor people to cover this default amount.

Another affected consumer Zain Ghaloo appealed to chairman Wapda to direct Hesco chief for providing relief to public and transfer officials inducted by the PML-Q led government in Dadu circle.

Our Sukkur correspondent adds: According to an official handout, Hesco has announced 12-hour long loadshedding from March 26 to April 2 from 8am to 8pm daily on 11KV Military Road, Bunder Road, Shikarpur Road, Bachal Shah, Mir Masoom Shah, Shahi Bazar, Clock Tower, Nishter Road, Pakistan Railways, New Barrage and Shamsabad Feeders of Sukkur City coming from 66KV City Grid Station Sukkur.