SWABI, May 4: The frequent stoppages of power supply at nights and unscheduled loadshedding by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), Swabi, has exposed the people of the area to mosquito bites resulting in malaria.

For last three days, Pesco had resorted not only in stoppage of power in day but also at night which has provided an opportunity to mosquitoes to bite the people, specially the children who had to pass through the sleepless nights.

The people of the area castigated the government, saying that on the one hand, the government had been running a campaign on electronic media for adopting precautionary measures for shielding their families from mosquitoes and the dangerous disease like malaria, but on the other, the stoppage of power supply at nights had increased the suffering of the people from this disease.

Between Friday and Saturday night, from 12.20am the power supply was suspended for an hour, and again after the Fajr Azaan the Pesco staff resorted to an half-hour loadshedding.

On both these occasions, a number of children had been bit by mosquitoes. The doctors said if the unscheduled loadshedding had not been stopped majority of the people of the area would suffer from malaria.

Besides, the power supply had usually remained suspended on each Sunday and for many hours in the far-flung areas of the district and whenever the concerned staff was asked they pretended that they had secured a permit. The union council Nazims and councillors of various union councils have warned the Pesco staff to give up unscheduled loadshedding or be prepared for the consequences.