SWAT: Flood-affected residents of Mingora took to the streets on Wednesday after receiving hefty electricity and gas bills instead of relief from the government. Carrying bills in their hands, the protesters chanted slogans and demanded a waiver of utility charges for at least five months.
The victims said their houses had been destroyed by the floods, washing away their belongings and savings. “There is no electricity, no gas, no water, and even the meters and pipelines have been swept away, yet we have been issued bills running into thousands of rupees,” one protester complained, adding that some bills ranged from Rs20,000 to Rs30,000.
They accused the government of burdening them with bills instead of providing relief at a time when they were already struggling. Local resident Sher Ali said, “We don’t even have food for one meal a day. Our meters and gas lines were washed away, yet the government has sent us bills, rubbing salt into our wounds.”
The protesters urged the government to immediately announce a five-month waiver on utility bills and provide sustained relief until they can rebuild their lives.
