SWAT: Residents of Mingora area here on Friday complained about the excessive power cuts and insisted that the unavailability of electricity for long hours badly hit household, commercial and industrial activities.

They told Dawn that unscheduled loadshedding was mostly reported in Amankot, Faizabad, Rahimabad, Malookabad, Rang Mohallah, Rajaabad, Panr, Dangram and Saidu Sharif.

The residents asked the Peshawar Electric Supply Company for the early resolution of the issue, which, they insisted, has “paralysed” their life.

Shopkeeper Nadeem Ahmad said his business in Amankot had badly suffered from the frequent power cuts.

Residents urge Pesco to stop unscheduled loadshedding

“I need refrigeration to prevent food items from spoiling in this weather but as suspension of electricity happens again and again, ice creams, puddings and other stuff are affected,” he said, adding that power cuts cost him dearly.

Shabnam Bibi, a teacher in Malookabad area, said the frequent power cuts made it difficult for the school to manage classes efficiently.

“Students suffer in the absence of smooth electric supply,” she said.

Ahmad Khan of Saidu Sharif said machinery and medicines at health centres, including hospitals, required nonstop electricity, so the excessive power cuts troubled patients.

He said the excessive loadshedding threatened patient care.

The Pesco blames power cuts on technical issues and maintenance work, the residents largely don’t subscribe to the public utility’s version and often take to the streets to demand smooth supply of electricity.

Community leader Rashid Khan said the excessive power outages were taking a toll on everyone’s life.

He urged the Pesco to fix the issue without delay to ease the misery of the people.

“Our life is badly affected [by unscheduled loadshedding for long hours]. We just want things to get better,” he said.

Resident Irfan Khan said people needed power supply round the clock in the current hot and humid weather to cool themselves off but regrettably, the Pesco had increased loadshedding hours.

He said the Daral power station in Swat generated electricity but regrettably, the residents couldn’t benefit from it.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2023