SWABI: The subsidised wheat flour supply to the consumers started here the other day.

Abdul Qayum, Razaar tehsildar, told Dawn that the flour supply was started from Dagai union council after getting 500 bags with a 20kg bag priced at Rs808.

The district administration officials said a total of 254 traders had been selected throughout the district after the rigorous process in 56 union councils for the wheat flour supply.

The officials said adequate flour stocks had been made available in the district to facilitate the people affected by the enforcement of lockdown to check spread of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, price of 20kg wheat flour bag has been increased in the open market to Rs1,150 from Rs900. The traders do not rule out further increase in view of the lockdown.

POWER SUSPENSION: The heavy rain here the other day caused prolonged power suspension in many areas, complained the consumers.

They accused the Pesco officials of being in the habit of suspending the supply once the rain started.

Arshad Khan of Maneri Bala said compared with the city areas the far-flung villages suffered blackouts in wet weather.

When contacted, Pesco officials said rains always disrupted power supply and that the field staff was working to restore the supply.

Meanwhile, nine out-of-order electricity transformers have yet to be fixed, causing problems to the residents amid lockdown.

Pesco officials said the faulty transformers were lying in the workshop unfixed due to unavailability of the wire and other material as the markets were closed.

The consumers said they had contacted MPA Rangaiz Khan to get the faulty transformers fixed, but to no avail.

The lawmaker said he was also contacted by the consumers in Koth village, where a 100KV transformer had been burned five days ago.

Two transformers of 100KV and 50KV capacities are lying out-of-order in Matoono area of Topi.

Another transformer in Chaodher region was also burnt a few days ago.

Two transformers each in Chota Lahor and Razaar have been lying dysfunctional for last three days.

The people said the power suspension had caused water shortage in the localities.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2020