QUETTA, April 1: A group of about 100 youths on a march to Quetta from Zhob in order to highlight the issue of non-supply of natural gas to their area, reached Muslimbagh town on Sunday.

The group started the ‘long march’ from Zhob on March 24 and covered a distance of 180km by Sunday.

Giving details of the march at a press conference in Quetta on Sunday,

Naqibullah Mandokhel of the Zhob Youth Action Committee said the purpose of the 320km march was to draw the government’s attention to the two main problems facing the town. He urged the authorities concerned to ensure supply of natural gas to the district headquarters and connect the Zhob power grid station with the Chashma Barrage.

He said that non-supply of natural gas and loadshedding for up to 18 hours had badly affected the residents of Zhob, particularly farmers.

He said some of the marchers were not feeling well because of bruises suffered during the journey but they are determined to reach Quetta in their attempt to persuade the government to accept their demands.

Mr Mandokhel said that Pakhtun residents of Balochistan supported the demand of marchers. He warned that if the government did not give a positive response to their demands then they would organise sit-ins outside the Governor’s House and the Chief Minister Secretariat.