PESHAWAR, Sept 27: Continued to be irked by prolonged loadshedding, people in the provincial capital's various areas have demanded smooth electric supply.

A resident of Hashtnagri complained of the continued power suspension to his area for three to four hours many times in a day.

He told Dawn that most power outages by Peshawar Electric Supply Company were unscheduled. He said that complaints to Pesco often fell on deaf ears.

Kashif Khan, of Gulberg, said that loadshedding for long hours in a day was common. He said that Pesco supplied electricity for one and a half hour and then suspended it for the next four hours daily.

He added that frequent power cuts had forced people into purchasing diesel-run generators but that, too, was little help in light of prolonged load shedding.

Abdul Qadir Khan, of Badhber, also criticised Pesco over suspension of electric supply in the area for 18 hours daily. He said people had bought generators to run tube wells for water. He blamed his misery on non-payment of electricity bills by the people of tribal areas.

“They don't pay bills and we suffer from their practice,” he said.

There are also complaints of water shortage in the city due to prolonged load shedding. A Gulabad resident said suspension of electric supply left tube wells out of action.

He said load shedding had affected children the most under the current humid conditions.

When contacted, a spokesman for Pesco said low power production had led to prolonged load shedding. He said power outages were carried out by Regional Control Centre, Islamabad.

The spokesman urged people to optimise use of electricity, especially during 6pm and 11pm, to help power companies overcome the current energy crisis.

He also said industrial consumers could save at least 25 per cent energy they used through better management.

He urged commercial power consumers to shut down businesses before 8pm and avoid decorative lights.

The spokesman recommended use of energy savers and tube lights instead of bulbs and said people should iron clothes during the daytime to save energy.