BAJAUR: Electric supply to most trade centres here was restored on Wednesday after two weeks suspension over the meter installation issue.

The development came at the intervention of the district administration, an official of the Tribal Electricity Supply Company told Dawn on condition of anonymity.

He said that senior officials of the administration led by deputy commissioner Iftikhar Alam met the company’s top bosses here two days ago and called for the immediate restoration of electric supply to bazaars, including those in district headquarters Khar.

The official said that the administration supported the Tesco’s stand that electricity would be supplied to shops only after the installation of power meters there, but it asked them to restore electric supply to prevent street protests by traders.

He said that the district administration assured the Tesco that it would call a meeting of trader leaders and other major stakeholders from across the tribal district for the amicable resolution of the power meters issue.

The official said that the Tesco, which had earlier announced zero tolerance against the traders opposed to meter installation, accepted the administration’s request and agreed to restore power supply to trade centres without delay.

He said that power supply was restored in the main Khar bazaar three days ago and in trade centres of Inayat Kallay, Nawagai and Sadiqabad areas on Tuesday.

The traders of Khar and Inayat Kallay areas, which have the largest and second largest commercial centres in the district respectively, confirmed the restoration of electric supply.

They said that the power supply, which remained suspended for more than 17 days, was restored on Tuesday by the Tesco following the holding of protest demonstrations by the traders.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2022