Unannounced Prolonged Load-Shedding in Quetta’s Commercial Centres Unacceptable: Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party
Quetta: In a statement issued by the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party (PNAP) District Quetta, strong concern and condemnation have been expressed over unannounced and prolonged load-shedding lasting several hours for the past several days in Quetta city, particularly in Liaquat Bazaar, Sattar Road, Kandahari Bazaar, Choharmal Road, and adjoining commercial areas. The statement said that prolonged power outages in the central and densely populated commercial areas of Quetta city are unacceptable. Liaquat Bazaar, Sattar Road, Choharmal Road, and Kandahari Bazaar are important business centres of the city, where thousands of shopkeepers and businesspeople conduct their business daily. The traders’ community is already suffering severe hardship due to inflation, economic difficulties, and declining business activity, and now power outages lasting several hours have further added to their problems.
The statement said that consumers regularly pay electricity bills amounting to thousands to millions of rupees, yet despite this they are being deprived of the basic facility of continuous electricity supply. Due to prolonged power breakdowns, business activities are affected, shopkeepers lose valuable time and capital, while citizens face severe difficulties.
The statement further said that K-Electric’s failure to provide a clear and workable schedule regarding the power supply system and load-shedding, and keeping citizens in continuous agony, is an extremely worrying matter. The relevant authorities should take practical steps instead of mere announcements and immediately end the unnecessary power outages in the central areas of the city. PNAP District Quetta has demanded that K-Electric’s senior officials and relevant higher authorities take immediate notice of the prolonged load-shedding in Liaquat Bazaar, Sattar Road, Kandahari Bazaar, and other affected areas, restore power supply, and end the series of unannounced load-shedding.
The statement made clear that if immediate relief is not provided to citizens and the traders’ community and the prolonged power outages continue, PNAP District Quetta will be compelled to adopt a protest plan of action together with the public and the traders’ community, and all responsibility for this will rest with the relevant authorities.
