Syed Ali Shah, Manan Mandokhail:
QUETTA:
Growers Action Committee (GAC) blocked all highways across Balochistan against the ongoing load shedding. The province remains disconnected on Thursday via the road network as a result of the blockade of roads by the GAC.
“QESCO has been deliberately observing more than 20 hours of load shedding in Balochistan to destroy our standing crops”, Syed Abdul Qahar Agha, the central leader of the GAC claimed. He said unannounced and prolonged load shedding had severely damaged the standing crops and orchards across Balochistan. They burnt tires to vent their anger.
CM Quddus Bizenjo takes notice of the growers’ problems
Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Quddus Bizenjo took a notice of the growers’ protest and directed the QESCO to hold a meeting with GAC. The parliamentary leader of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), Malik Naseer Shahwani and JUI F lawmaker Asghar Tareen and QESCO Chief Engineer Kareem Jamali participated in the meeting.
Quetta-Karachi highway was blocked at Johan Kalat
A large number of growers blocked the main Quetta-Karachi highway at Johan Kalat to vent their anger against the QESCO. Prince Laal Jan Ahmedzai led the enraged growers in demanding the restoration of power supply to rural Balochistan.
Traffic between Quetta to Karachi remains suspended as a result of the blockade of the highway. “We want justice”, Mr. Ahmedzai said. He said the growers’ community had suffered billions of losses because of unannounced and prolonged hours of load shedding in Balochistan.
Long queues of vehicles were witnessed and the passengers remained the worst sufferers of the blockade of the highway. Especially, women and children suffered a lot due to the highway blockade.
The GAC had also blocked the main Quetta-Chaman road at Yaro in protest against the QESCO. The enraged protesters chanted full-throated slogans against the provincial and federal governments and the WAPDA.
MPAs and ministers could not meet the federal minister of power
The growers’ load-shedding problem was also discussed in the Balochistan Assembly the other day. And a delegation of lawmakers also visited Islamabad to meet the power minister. However, they were unable to meet the minister.
QESCO Chief, Engineer Kareem Jamali said there were billions of rupees outstanding against the growers’ community in Balochistan. He said the growers were reluctant to pay their bills. Mr. Jamali also said that the demand for the power supply was high but the availability was less to meet the growing demand of consumers.
