Summary The protestors demanded an immediate end to the unscheduled loadshedding.
PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – Hundreds of people ransacked Wapda office in Bannu district and destroyed the record in protest against prolonged power outages on Monday.
The people belonging to different tribes started their protest early morning on Bannu Dera Ismail Khan road, but no responsible official turned up to hold talks with them even after several hours.
Later, they stormed the Wapda office and torched office record, three vehicles and four motorcycles.
The protestors demanded an immediate end to the unscheduled loadshedding.
To control the situation, security officials arrived at the scene and resorted to aerial fire to disperse the protestors.
Pakistan has suffered severe electricity shortages and power riots in recent years.
With no alternative but to turn off supplies for up to 16-18 hours a day, ordinary people who cannot afford expensive diesel generators to power their electric fans are left to swelter.
On the other hand, the government has sought to give the impression that it has the situation under control.
On July 23, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the load shedding will be eliminated in three to four years under government’s National Energy Policy.
The prime minister further said that 1400 MW power would be added to the system in the current year.
On the other hand, The government has paid off Rs503 billion in loans to power companies in just four weeks in order to end load shedding.
The current demand for electricity in the country was 17,861 megawatts, whilst the supply was currently at 14,317 megawatts.
