By: Aftab Hussain
Residents of Shangla district have taken to the streets to express their frustration and anger against the prolonged and excessive power outages plaguing their area. Despite generating 85 megawatts of electricity from the Khan Khwar Dam, Shangla faces power outages exceeding 12 hours, causing immense difficulties for the residents.
The situation is further aggravated by the fact that Shangla only requires 6-7 megawatts of electricity to meet its local needs. The prolonged power outages have resulted in:
Water Scarcity*: Residents are struggling to access clean water due to the lack of electricity, which affects the functioning of water supply systems.
Disruption of Businesses*: The power outages have brought local businesses to a standstill, causing significant economic losses.
Agricultural Impact*: The lack of electricity has also affected the local agriculture, with thousands of kanals of agricultural land lying barren.
The residents of Shangla are demanding that the authorities take immediate action to address the power crisis. They are seeking
End to Discriminatory Treatment*: The residents want an end to the discriminatory treatment meted out to Shangla, ensuring that the district receives its fair share of electricity.
Implementation of Promises*: They expect the elected representatives to fulfill their promises of providing electricity from local sources, such as hydropower projects, to meet the district’s needs.
Improved Power Infrastructure*: The residents want the authorities to upgrade the existing power infrastructure to ensure a stable and reliable power supply.
The residents are urging WAPDA and other relevant authorities to review their policies and ensure that Shangla receives its rightful share of electricity. The situation demands immediate attention, and the authorities must take concrete steps to address the power crisis and provide relief to the residents of Shangla..
