KOHAT, Nov 28: The duration of unannounced daily loadshedding by Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) has reached 14 hours in urban localities of Kohat and 19 hours in rural areas.

In city areas, power supply is being suspended for one and half hours after every hour and people, including students and office-goers, could not work with concentration.

Besides, work of welders, carpenters, electric shops and others has been badly affected by loadshedding.When contacted, Pesco SDO (city) said that grid station employees were responsible for power outages and they should be asked about that.

Surprisingly, the SDO said that he was hearing the complaint about unscheduled loadshedding in the city for the first time in months.

The grid station phone remained busy when this correspondent tried to contact the officials to know about the reason behind power breakdowns.

Meanwhile, consumers continue to complain about inflated bills, saying that light is restored for a few hours in the day, but the Pesco has been sending them bills over and above the meter reading.

A consumer, Noor Mohammad told Dawn on Wednesday that he had received Rs28,000 power bill and when he contacted the Pesco officials they advised him to deposit the bill in installments otherwise his electricity connection would be cut off.

Similarly, a local businessman, Kamran, criticised the Pesco for sending him a bill with 1,000 extra units that he had not yet used. He said that despite several complaints during last five months the Pesco staff did not correct the bill. He said that the officials told him that the extra units could not be adjusted because in that case the meter reader would have to face action.

KILLED: A tea stall owner was shot dead near Shahpur area here on Wednesday.

Inamullah Khan, the victim, was coming to his tea stall in main bazaar Kohat on motorcycle when he was gunned down on Shahpur road by his enemies. The city police registered the case and have launched investigation. —Correspondent