DROSH: Residents of Drosh took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against what they described as excessive and unjustified power outages imposed by PESCO (Peshawar Electric Supply Company). The protest led to a complete shutdown of the local bazaar and the suspension of all vehicular traffic.
According to local residents, PESCO has enforced a new power outage schedule in Drosh over the past two weeks, causing widespread public resentment. All political parties and civil society representatives in the area have joined hands to oppose the schedule.
Community leaders said they had held several meetings with district administration officials, urging them to intervene and convince the relevant authorities to review the power outage schedule. However, they alleged that PESCO’s failure to address their concerns had left residents with no option but to stage a public protest.
On Wednesday, protesters closed the entire Drosh Bazaar and gathered in large numbers at Khatm-e-Nabuwwat Chowk to register their anger over the prolonged power outages.
Addressing the gathering, speakers accused PESCO of imposing an unjustified burden on the public to conceal its own inefficiencies. They termed the existing load-shedding schedule unacceptable and demanded its immediate withdrawal.
The speakers also alleged that the power utility was creating unnecessary resentment among the people of an otherwise peaceful area. They warned that the public’s legitimate grievances must not be ignored and vowed that the protest would remain peaceful.
The protesters made it clear that their agitation would continue until the previous electricity supply schedule was restored in Drosh. As a symbolic expression of their protest, participants also offered their Zuhr prayers at the same chowk.
The gathering echoed with slogans against WAPDA and PESCO, while the shutdown and road blockade brought normal commercial and transport activities in Drosh to a standstill.
At the time of filing this report, the bazaar remained completely closed and roads were blocked as protesters continued their demonstration.
