KOHAT: The prolonged electricity loadshedding has created acute water shortage in the Frontier Region of Kohat.

The affected areas are Zarghunkhel, Tor Chappar, Akhorwal, Sheraki, Bostikhel and Jawaki.

The elders and tribal maliks said that they were experiencing acute shortage of drinking water and could not hire two heavy generators simultaneously for coal mining and domestic use.

They aired their grievances at an open kutcheri held in Bosti Khel by assistant political agent Ziaur Rehman Kahttak on Saturday, which was also attended by heads of line departments.

After hearing the complaints of the tribesmen, the assistant political agent said power loadshedding was being carried out owing to non-payment of electricity bills by the tribesmen. He explained that the rule was indiscriminate and was being followed strictly in settled areas too.

However, he assured the tribesmen that the matter would be taken up with the Pesco high-ups.

An elder, Jasim Afridi, told Dawn that majority of the tribesmen were poor and could not buy generators and had to share water with those who had got the facility. He said electricity was provided for only two hours in two days.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2018