LAHORE, Jan 1: Prolonged and unscheduled power outages sparked protests and road blockades in different parts of the provincial capital on Thursday.

Protesters holding placards and banners inscribed with anti-government slogans, burnt tyres and chanted slogans.

Over 250 workers and traders from the Printing Market of Royal Park gathered at Lakshami Chowk and blocked the road.

They demanded the resignation of the Water and Power minister for his “inefficiency” to overcome the power crisis.

One of the placards read “Don’t push us to commit suicide through continuous loadshedding”.

Civil Lines Superintendent of Police Sohail Akhtar Sokhaira told Dawn that the protesters had stayed at the crossing for half an hour and dispersed peacefully.

He said the traffic was diverted to other roads during the protest.

He said around 50 protesters, including traders of Hall Road Electronics Market, first converged at Hall Road Chowk on McLeod Road and lodged a protest and then walked from Regal Chowk to Faisal Chowk.

They burnt sticks, banners and placards and raised slogans against the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

Also, the residents and traders of Makka Centre in Gulberg and some other localities of the city lodged protests against Wapda for its failure to provide relief to power consumers.