BAJAUR: Residents of various areas of Bajaur tribal district on Wednesday complained about prolonged suspension of electricity in their localities and called for its immediate restoration.

Taking to Dawn, they alleged that their areas had been out of electricity since last Saturday following heavy rains.

They claimed that majority of areas of the district including many localities of the Khar tehsil had been in darkness since October 5 following rains and other reasons.

“There is no electricity in many areas of the district for the last six consecutive days,” said Shahab Khan, a resident of Haji Lawang area.

The residents accused the local Tribal Electricity Supply Company (TESCO) for not taking steps to restore the power supply in the affected areas.

They demanded of the officials of the electricity company to take immediate steps for the restoration of electricity in their areas without further delay.

PLANTS SEALED: A joint team of district administration, Khar tehsil municipal authorities and industries department’s officials sealed 11 filling stations and four stone crushing plants for overcharging and operating illegally in the tribal district, said a statement.

It said that the officials inspected several petrol pumps and arrested the owners of 11 filling stations for violating official price list and tampering with the gauges. The owners of four stone crushing plants were also detained for overcharging the customers and operating without official authorisation.

The statement said that the action against petrol pumps and stone crushing units was taken in public interest as administration had received multiple complaints against them.

It said that the administration would strictly monitor petrol pumps across the district so that no one could violate official price list.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2024