MANSEHRA/BAJAUR/SWAT: Residents of Agror and Tanawal areas of Oghi tehsil and several localities in Bajaur district and traders in Mingora took to the streets on Thursday, demanding immediate restoration of electricity.

In Mansehra, according to protesters, electricity supply was disrupted after the since heavy snowfall polls several days before, which has not yet been restored in most of the areas.

The charged protesters marched through various roads of the city and later blocked the Oghi–Mansehra Road, causing severe inconvenience to inter-district and local commuters.

They raised slogans against Wapda, holding it responsible for failing to restore electricity even five days after what they described as the heaviest snowfall in a decade.

Several Mansehra, Bajaur and Swat areas facing electricity outage

“Most parts of Agror and Tanawal are still without electricity. Despite repeated requests, Wapda has failed to clear and repair the damaged lines in such harsh weather conditions,” said local general councillor Asif Shahzad.

The protesters were later dispersed peacefully after the DSP Oghi Circle, along with police personnel, arrived at the scene and held talks with them. The DSP assured the protesters of taking up their concerns with Wapda authorities and that electricity would be restored soon.

In Bajaur district, residents of several localities on Thursday expressed resentment over prolonged power suspension in their areas and demanded its immediate restoration.

Taking to Dawn, they alleged that their areas had been out of electricity for the last one week following the second spell of the heavy rains and snow.

We don’t know the causes, but electricity has remained unavailable in several areas, mainly rural and hilly localities, since January 21 after the district experienced the second spell of heavy rain and heavy snowfall in the mountainous regions,” said Ihsanullah, Inam Khan and Dilawar Khan, resident of Haji Lawang area of Khar, Shahgoo of War Mamund and Laghari of War Mamund tehsils respectively.

Imran Khan, Bakht Khan, Ismail Khan and Hanif Khan, social activists of Khar, War Mamund, Lowi Mamund and Salarzai tehsils, while taking to this correspondent also lashed out the local lawmakers for not taking interest in restoration of electricity in their areas.

Meanwhile, an official of the local Tesco office in Khar when contacted told Dawn that electricity in these areas has been suspended, which will be restored within the next two days.

In Swat, traders in Mingora on Thursday staged a strong protest against what they described as unjustified and prolonged electricity outage in Swat, bringing traffic to a standstill on a key road in the city.

The demonstration was organised by local traders who gathered in large numbers outside the Wapda House on Saidu Sharif Road, blocking the Mingora to Saidu Sharif thoroughfare for all kinds of traffic.

The protesters chanted slogans against the power utility and expressed deep frustration over frequent and unannounced power outages, which they said were severely affecting business activities. They said that the prolonged outages had further weakened businesses that were already struggling due to inflation and rising operational costs.

Later, a delegation of traders led by Abdul Rahim, president of the Malakand Division Traders Federation, held talks with the SE (Superintending Engineer) of Pesco, who assured them of addressing their issues.

KCCI MEETING: The office bearers of the Kohat industrial estate and Kohat chamber of commerce and industry (KCCI) have demanded Sui gas, security and an end to excessive electricity outage, saying these are life lines for development.

Addressing the joint meeting, the KCCI president, Haji Rasheed Paracha, said they were struggling to bring economic prosperity and overcome rising unemployment.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026