HARIPUR: The Hazara Electric Supply Company (Hazeco) disconnected power supply to all tubewells under Tehsil Municipal Administration exposing residents across Haripur city to shortage of potable water as the civic body failed to clear Rs450 million dues, official sources and former local government representatives told Dawn.

According to Hazeco sources, the TMA supplies potable water to its consumers in the urban limits of Haripur through a total of 42 tubewells.

Seven out of 42 tubewells were solarised a few months back while 35 were still connected with the electricity supply system of Hazeco and due to non-payment of dues of Rs450 million by the TMA, the Hazeco’s staff has removed the links of power transformers of all the 35 tubewells suspending water supply to the entire city except the area falling under those of seven solarised tubewells.

“The residents of almost entire city are exposed to worst water crisis for the last three days”, said Qamar Naveed a former councilor adding that the people going to mosques were unable to get water for ablution.

Another former chairman of a neighborhood council requesting anonymity lamented that PTI was the ruling party in the province and provincial assembly and the cabinet had representation from Haripur.

However, the Haripur TMA, once known as one of the few wealthiest TMAs in the province, is now facing financial crisis to the level that it is unable to disburse salaries and pensions to its employees in time and clear the dues of Hazeco as well.

He accused the political leadership and the TMA authorities for their failure to transfer the TMA’s tubewells and street lights to the solar system and the lack of planning has led the civic body to expose thousands of consumers to worst water crisis in the hot summer.

When contacted, tehsil municipal officer Gul Naib was not available.

One of his junior officer confirmed that the electricity connections of all 35 tubewells were snapped due to non-payment of dues.

He said that the provincial government and local MPAs were approached for their intervention and hopefully the situation would improve by Friday.

Meanwhile, chairman of the board of directors of the newly-established Water and Sanitation Services Company Haripur Agha Shabir Ahmad expressed concern over the suspension of water supply and attributed water crisis to the mismanagement by the TMA.

He, however, said that WSSCH was likely to commence its operation in the city by the middle of next month.

“We hope that the situation of water supply and sanitation will improve to the required level,” he told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026