By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan’s restive tribal areas are facing up to 23 hours of power cuts, leading to an acute shortage of water as the pumps remain idle for want of electricity.
Landikotal and Khyber Agency are the worst hit. The power crisis has aggravated the fragile law and order situation in the region with locals planning to protest, Daily Times reported Monday.
Head of the TESCO power company Pervez Swati has allegedly instructed all grid stations’ officials to collect payments of electric bills from the public, and failing which they may even face a complete blackout.
This is an announcement of war against the tribal people by TESCO, said Afzal Afridi, a resident of Landikotal. Grid officials have also adopted an unfair policy of supplying one-hour power to meet people’s water needs, he said.
Last week, violent protests were witnessed in Punjab and Sindh provinces over long periods of unannounced power cuts.