LAHORE, May 24: Punjab University hostel residents on Friday staged a protest demonstration -- third in this week -- against loadshedding and university administration’s failure in making alternative arrangements for power supply to the hostels.

PU students led by Islami Jamiat Tulaba Nazim Hafiz Nauman Zafar blocked Canal Road on both sides for more than an hour, causing problems for commuters in the hot and humid summer afternoon.

The students also staged demonstrations on Canal Road on Thursday and Tuesday to register their protest against loadshedding. They raised slogans against the university administration as well as the vice-chancellor for their failure to make alternative arrangements for power supply.

Speaking to the protesters, Hafiz Zafar said the PU administration had failed in resolving students’ issues, as it neither installed a power plant nor talked to Wapda for supply of electricity to hostels. He said hostel residents were suffering amid 20-hour power outages. He said even water was not available in hostels.

The IJT representative said the PU administration should install a grid station or solar power system like other universities. He demanded that the varsity administration should ensure supply of water to hostels.

PU Hall Council chairman Dr Muhammad Akhtar negotiated with the protesters and assured them that the university administration would address the electricity issue in the university in general and hostels in particular. Later, students dispersed peacefully.