GILGIT: As locals face up to 18-hour-long power outages, the Gilgit Baltistan government has started an operation to remove illegal electricity connections and special transmission lines to government offices and official residences.

The GB water and power department, in collaboration with district administrations, has started the action from Sunday to overcome the power shortage.

GB Chief Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said government officers, including himself, have been provided with special power transmission lines to ensure 24-hour electricity supply to their offices and houses while the public was facing 18 to 20 hours of load shedding.

“Therefore, I have decided to put an end to this unfair practice,” Mr Wani said, adding that it was essential to treat every citizen fairly and equitably.

According to the chief secretary, directions have been issued to provide special transmission lines only to hospitals, mosques, schools and government offices (only during working hours).

Chief secretary issues directives for ‘equitable’ electricity transmission

An official of the GB water and power department told Dawn that in line with the chief secretary’s directives, several special transmission lines were disconnected in the Gilgit district on Monday. He said the action will continue till all special transmission lines are removed across the region.

The district administrations of Diamer, Hunza, Skardu and Ghizer also removed special transmission lines, while district Nagar and Kharmang didn’t have any special transmission lines.

The Ghizer district administration, in coordination with the water and power department, carried out an operation in Ghakuch, which is the district headquarters.

According to the administration, a special connection to a transformer feeding government offices and a residential colony was disconnected.

According to the GB chief secretary, the operation to remove special transmission lines will be carried out in three phases.

In the first phase, special transmission lines to private residences, commercial settlements and other establishments will be cut. In the second phase, special transmission lines to government offices and residences will be removed. The third phase will focus on special lines for mosques and seminaries.

The operation was expected to conclude by the first week of May. Teams comprising officials from district administration, the water and power department and police have been formed for the task, according to the chief secretary.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2023