MANSEHRA: The energy ministry has notified the annexation of three districts in Kohistan region with the newly-created Hazara Electric Supply Company (Hazesco).
“The federal cabinet, in a meeting last month, approved the annexation of Upper and Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas districts with Hazesco, so the Ministry of Energy has now formally notified it,” chairman of Wapda Hydro-Electric Union Jamil Tanoli told reporters.
He said the initiative would ensure smooth functioning of the new power utility.
Mr Tanoli said the ministry had directed the relevant departments and officials to facilitate the smooth transition and operationalisation of Hazesco.
“Although the company was established after meeting all legal formalities, it has yet to fully begin operations due to some issues,” he said.
The union leader urged the federal government to provide the power quota of 1200 megawatts to the region to address power outages, claiming there is 100 per centbill recovery from residents.
“If we receive the required electricity, we can generate revenue, as almost all mega energy projects are functioning in the Hazara division,” he said.
He added that with the annexation of the three districts, the proposed power divisions of Abbottabad, Mansehra, and Kohistan could now be operational. “With the formal launching of Hazesco, issues like power outages, exorbitant electricity bills, and low voltage will also be resolved in the Hazara division,” Mr Tanoli said.
COUPLE DIE: A man and his wife lost livesin a gas leak incident in Paras area of Kaghan Valley here on Wednesday.
“The elderly couple, Nazir Shah and his wife, had lit a leaking cylinder in their room before going to sleep to cope with the severe cold, which caused their deaths. Their bodies were recovered after breaking the door in the morning,” SHO of the Paras police station Tasweer Hussain Shah told reporters.
Bodies of Nazir Shah and his wife both in their late 60s were shifted to the Rural Health Centre in Kawai where doctors handed them over to their family after completing medico-legal formalities.
Search operation: police launched a search and strike operation in the mountainous areas of Battal here on Wednesday to arrest outlaws and seized unlicensed arms and ammunition.
“Heavy contingents of police force, including women constables, have been participating in the search and strike operation in mountainous parts of Battle and its adjoining localities,” DPO Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told reporters.
He said the operation was launched to target strangers who had settled secretly without prior information to police and seizure of arms and ammunition.
“We have already conducted similar operations in other mountainous parts of the district, arresting proclaimed offenders and seizing unlicensed and prohibited arms,” he said.
Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2025