Daily Times

HARIPUR: The residents of Sara-e-Saleh union council (UC) on Monday staged a demonstration and blocked the main Grand Trunk Road in protest against the prolonged power outages causing problems to the commuters in the scorching heat. Led by former Nazim UC Sara-e-Saleh, Wajahat Shah, the protesters suspended traffic for almost two hours on the GT Road near Rehana Chowk. Demanding an end to the unannounced and unscheduled loadshedding the protesters chanted boisterous slogans while holding banners criticisng Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO). Speaking on the occasion, the former nazim said that people were subjected to frequented power cuts lasting for more than 18 hours a day in the area. He said that despite repeated requests PESCO officials failed to address the core problem. He also accused the authorities concerned for not even bothering to share the information with local consumers about the loadshedding schedule. They said that the outages had badly affected their businesses as well as daily routine. Later the road was opened on the assurance of XEN WAPDA and Deputy Commissioner that the grievances of the protesters would be dealt with on a priority basis. Former Provincial Minister Yousaf Ayub was also present on the occasion. Long queues of vehicles on both sides of the road were also witnessed while several passengers reportedly fainted due to the blazing sun.