MANSEHRA: The daylong power outages every alternate day have irked domestic and commercial consumers in Mansehra city and its suburbs.

“Peshawar Electric Supply Company suspends power supply crippling our businesses in the city and surrounding areas,” patron-in-chief of the traders’ body Fayyaz Solaria told reporters.

Mansehra and nearby areas are witnessing daylong power outages every other day, allegedly under the pretext of repairing transmission lines and trimming tree branches.

“Pesco also observes routine load shedding, which further disrupts both business and domestic life,” Mr Solaria said.

He added that a delegation of traders met with senior Pesco officials and informed them about the prolonged power cuts, which were badly affecting commercial activities.

“Businesses that rely on electricity are the worst affected. Overall, trade has reached a breakeven point,” Mr Solaria said.

He urged Pesco to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the city and its outskirts, saying that healthcare facilities, diagnostic labs, and clinics were also being severely impacted.

Meanwhile, residents from Channia, Upper Channia and nearby areas also complained about daylong power outages.

Mohammad Bashir Tanoli said that prolonged outages had severely disrupted daily life.

“We remain without potable water for the entire day because we can’t operate the electric pumps installed on hand pumps and wells,” he said.

AFGHAN REGISTRATION: The district administration hasn’t completed the registration of Afghan nationals before initiating their repatriation to their native country.

“So far, around 70 individuals, including men, women, and children, have returned to Afghanistan,” District Administrator for Afghan Refugees Mohammad Ali told reporters here on Monday. He said that the repatriation of Afghans via the Torkham border was slow due to the massive influx of families returning to their homeland.

“We have around 24,600 Afghan nationals in our district, and approximately 9,000 of them who were granted temporary stay through NADRA-issued Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) in 2017 are being prioritised for repatriation,” he said.

Mr Ali said 3,979 men, women and children currently lived in the Barari and Sheikhabad Camp, 9,128 in Khaki Camp and 2,441 in Ichrian Camp.

The official said that around 9,000 Afghan nationals obtained ACCs in 2017 and reside in rented houses across Mansehra, Balakot, Oghi, Baffa-Pakhal and Darband tehsils.

“The district administration has registered 3,500 out of these 9,000 individuals, and the process is still going on,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2025