KOHAT: The people have complained that they have been facing excessive electricity loadshedding, causing them misery in hot weather.

They said frequent power outages had also caused water shortage as the lone tubewell run by the Water Supply and Sanitation Company could not function properly.

The residents of Junglekhel, Ustarazai, Muhammadzai, Togh Bala, Payan and rural areas of Lachi, Gumbat and Darra Adamkhel tehsils said they were suffering 16 hours of power cuts.

Meanwhile, the residents have demanded of the district administration to take notice of increase in prices of roti and meat.

They complained that nanbais had increased the roti price from Rs10 to Rs20.

Similarly, they said butchers had raised the price of mutton and beef by Rs200 per kilogramme on the pretext that there was shortage of cattle. They said mutton, which was earlier available for Rs1,300 per kilogramme, was now being sold for Rs1,400 and Rs1,500 per kilogramme.

They urged deputy commissioner Roshan Mehsud to call a meeting of nanbais and butchers to fix the prices of food items with mutual consent.

TOURISTS THRONG ORAKZAI: Tourists have thronged the tourist resorts in the Orakzai district, enjoying lush green meadows, streams and thick forests.

Saeed Afridi, a resident of Teerah area of Orakzai, said he along with his friends enjoyed grilled meat, and also ventured into the thick deodar forests to breathe in clean air. He said Teerah area could attract tourists from Hangu, Kohat and even from Punjab if hotels and restaurants were constructed there. “It would also create job opportunities for the local tribesmen,” he added.

Aleem Khattak, who came from Islamabad, spent a day with his friends in Khwaja Khizar area of Orakzai. He said as it was very cold outside they had to stay inside a mud house and enjoyed grilled meat.

Mr Aleem said tourists also used charcoal-burned stoves to stay warms as nights in Orakzai were usually chilly.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2022