KOHAT: The consumers have complained about 12 to 18 hours of electricity loadshedding in Kohat district.

Mohammad Abid Khan, president of the grand business alliance, said the authorities made no advance planning to cope with the power shortfall caused by population explosion after the migration of IDPs from Waziristan, Darra Adamkhel, Orakzai, Kurram, Mohmand, influx of Afghan refugees, and expansion of bazaars on the Rawalpindi, Bannu and Hangu roads.

He said obsolete lines, transformers and poles were unable to bear the extra load. He said frequent power breakdowns had affected businesses in the district.

Mr Abid said the consumers, who could not afford (UPS) Uninterrupted Power Supply or generators, spent sleepless nights.

Shakir Bangash, a resident of Shahpur, said there had been no electricity in a dozen of villages in the area for last two days, which had caused acute water shortage in homes and mosques. “We have been forced to bring water in drums from a well,” he added.

Mohammad Hashim, a resident of the city, said power supply was suspended early in the morning and restored after three hours.

Then again it was suspended at noon, in the evening and at night, he said, adding students could not take online classes after the batteries of laptops and mobile phones exhausted.

Mohammad Abid, another resident of the city, said the main bazaar transformer had developed a fault, but it was yet to be repaired.

A Pesco official Younis Shah told Dawn that owners constructed markets and plazas, but failed to install a separate transformer.

He said investors spent Rs40 million to Rs70 million on construction of markets but were reluctant to pay Rs200,000 for installing a separate transformer.

In a separate development, the Road Transport Authority (RTA) officials on Sundayfined 15 van drivers over violations of Covid-19-induced standard operating procedures.

RTA superintendent Shaukat Zaman and traffic chief warden Arab Jan checked vehicles on different routes, and found several drivers not wearing masks and accommodating passengers in violation of social distancing rule. They collected a fine of Rs8,300 from them.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2021