FOR the last twenty days, there has been uninterrupted loadshedding in Makran division. There is no electricity sometimes for the whole day, except Fridays, and people are unable to carry out their daily activities.

Due to prolonged loadshedding, there is no ice in the factories. If luckily there is any, it sells like hot cakes. One kilo of ice costs between 30 to 50 rupees.

According to local officials, the crisis is the result of a complex technical fault in Iran, which used to supply electricity to this region. It is imperative that the authorities take immediate steps to tackle the issue.

Saleem Barkat

Dannuk, Turbat

(2)

MAKRAN division has been suffering from a severe electricity crisis. Electricity is not being supplied by Iran. The problem according to local officials is that some necessary electrical equipment is faulty and can only be purchased from Germany.

We have been facing loadshedding for many months, but for the last 10 days, Makran has been facing 20 hours of loadshedding a day. Electronic media is not giving any coverage to the crisis.

Students in higher institutions rely on source material available on the internet, which is not accessible now. Labourers who work all day in heat have to go back to stifling houses. Owing to lack of electricity there is also a water shortage.

Everyone cannot afford generators. Mega dams are built in other provinces for producing electricity. The government should initiate such projects in Balochistan, so we can produce our own electricity.

If Iran stops supplying electricity to Makran, what will happen to us? I ask the authorities concerned to look into this issue.

Engr. Shigufta Iqbal

Mehallah, Turbat

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2018