MITHI, Oct 8: Eight to ten hours of daily load management in small rural towns are apt to slap deadly blow not only to business and economic activities but also on all spheres of life, creating rampant unemployment, especially among daily wagers and part timers.

Residents of Tharparkar district are facing this scenario which brings along with it other allied miseries. Scores of daily wagers used to earn their living by working at chakkis in previous years but now their numbers have dwindled to a few as these remain non-operational most of the time due to power shutdown, said Poonjo Meghwar, an affected labourer.

A vocalist, Karim Faqir lamenting the power outage schedule from 3.30am to 5.30am and then again from 9pm to 11.30pm said that besides electricity issue there was another dilemma of mosquitoes as towns and villages of Thar have not been fumigated since last many years. These excruciating creatures deprive the residents of sound sleep along with increasing the instances of malaria, skin diseases and other ailments.

A tailor who employed six men to assist him in this profession had to let go four as they had become redundant in the absence of electricity.

Its not only tailors or chakki owners who are milling in power woes, equally hit are washer-men, saw mills owners, wielders, mechanics, ice factory owners and embroiderers.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...