GHALANAI: The tribesmen have demanded of the Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) and the district administration to immediately stop excessive power outages in various areas.

They made the demand at an open kutchery held in Ghalanai Jirga Hall the other day.

MPA Nisar Mohmand, assistant commissioner, Baizai, Abdul Wahab, Tesco executive engineer Sheraz Khan, assistant commissioner, Upper Mohmand, Hamid Iqbal, heads of education, health, works & services, public health, agriculture, and forest departments were also present on the occasion.

A large number of locals participated in the open kutchery and appreciated the initiative of the provincial government aimed at redressing people’s grievances at their doorstep.

The residents presented their issues, which were responded to by the heads of the relevant departments.

MPA Nisar Mohmand asked the Tesco officials to immediately stop unscheduled loadshedding. He said the Tesco officials had given double-source connections to the blued-eyed people at the cost of depriving general consumers of smooth electricity supply.

He gave a 20-day deadline to Tesco officials to mend their ways or the people would take to the streets.

The lawmaker alleged that Tesco high-ups had dedicated a special feeder to the steel mills in the tribal district as they received huge money from the owners of factories. He also alleged that mostly PTI workers and government servants were members of the dispute resolution council and the alternate dispute resolution body, which was unacceptable to them. He further alleged that the government flour quota had also been allotted to the PTI workers.

The MPA said roller of communication & works department was stolen from Prang Ghar tehsil four months ago, but neither the police nor the local administration took action.

Tesco executive engineer Sheraz Khan said local residents were facing problems due to low voltage and power outages.

Deputy commissioner Iftikhar Alam asked the officials of Tesco and other departments to resolve the problems of people on a priority basis. He said that his administration would hold meetings with Tesco officials and local parliamentarians to resolve the power loadshedding issue in upper Mohmand areas.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2020