KOHAT, May 18: A group of women and men held a protest rally on Shakardarra-Mianwali road in scorching heat on Thursday to protest against loadshedding and acute shortage of water.

The protesters, led by a local couple, dispersed peacefully after the police held negotiations with them and the OGDC provided six tankers of water to the local population.

The manager of Chanda Oil and Gas fields operated by the OGDC, Ijaz Khan, promised the administration that the organisation would provide six tankers of water every second day to the local people facing acute water shortage for many years.

The OGDC after oil and gas discoveries in Shakardarra had approved a package of Rs5 million in 2000 to solve the problem of water shortage in the area.

The OGDC started free medical care facility and set up a school in the area but despite requests and protests by the district government water connections had not been provided as promised.