BATTAGRAM: People of Battagram on Saturday staged a protest demonstration against prolonged power loadshedding. Residents of Ajmera, Chapargram, Maidan and Battagram blocked the Karakoram Highway for all kinds of vehicular traffic, and complained that the loadshedding had affected businesses and caused water shortage in the district.

They said due to low voltage they could not run water pumps and had to fetch water from distant areas.

The protesters said power supply remained suspended even at Iftar and Sehr time despite the federal government’s promise to ensure smooth power supply during these hours.

They accused the local MNA, MPA and district government representatives of showing no concern to the public grievance.

Abdul Ahad, president of Battagram tailors association, told Dawn that excessive loadshedding had badly affected their business as they could not meet the orders of their customers. He said the local people met the Pesco SDO several times to reduce the loadshedding hours in Ramzan, but to no avail.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2016