QUETTA, July 20: Balochistan’s 17 districts, including several parts of Quetta, are without electricity for the past three days because the Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) has not yet started repair work on four pylons blown up by gunmen in the Kachhi district on Thursday.

Official sources told Dawn on Saturday that Qesco had not initiated repair work for security reasons.

“Our engineers and technical staff will start work after they are provided foolproof security,” a Qesco official said.

The disruption of power supply has affected life in 16 districts, including Sibi, Kachhi Bolan, Mastung, Kalat, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Pishin Ziarat, and some parts of the Quetta district. It has also caused shortage of water, and citizens are facing hardship, particularly during Sehr and Iftar.