BATTAGRAM: Power consumers on Tuesday besieged the Peshawar Electric Supply Company office to protest excessive and unscheduled loadshedding.

Jamaat-i-Islami local chapter called the protest attended by political and social activists, traders, and members of general public.

The protesters chanted slogans against Pesco and the district administration. They claimed that loadshedding had been a longstanding issue in Battagram, with successive governments failing to address the problem.

Anwar Baig, a participant, said despite residents held several meetings with the district administration and Pesco officials, no tangible solutions had been offered. Instead, he said the authorities cited the excuse of defaulters and arrears for carrying out the excessive power cuts.

Baig highlighted that prior to the 2005 earthquake the electric supply was stable, with issues being addressed promptly. “However, after the earthquake, people’s homes were destroyed, forcing them to relocate. When they returned and began rebuilding their lives, Pesco started sending inflated bills without meter reading or connections.

Saeed Ahmed Malkal, a former National Assembly candidate, corroborated Baig’s claims, stating that after the earthquake, the then prime minister Shaukat Aziz and power and energy minister Amir Muqam announced the waiver in electricity bills during their visit to Battagram. “However, this promise was not fulfilled, and people began receiving inflated bills.”

Malkal emphasised waiving these bills or allowing payment in installments would be a more practical solution as it is impossible for poor to pay such heavy bills at once.

Adil Nawaz Khan of PML-N stated that the protesters had a single-point agenda to end the prolonged outages and secure electric supply from the Allai Khwar hydropower project.

Khan asserted that it is the right of locals to benefit from the resources generated in their area.

Samiullah Khan, a JI activist, said despite generating electricity, the people of Battagram were facing unscheduled loadshedding.

The protesters demanded that the government put an end to the prolonged power cuts.

Assistant commissioner Mohammad Saleem Khan along with Pesco officials held talks with the protesters, promising that power cuts would be decreased in a day. Additionally, a committee comprising locals and district administration officials would be formed to oversee the matter and resolve it once and for all.

Following this assurance, the protesters dispersed peacefully.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2025