SOUTH WAZiRISTAN: The people of Wana in South Waziristan Lower are facing severe difficulties due to unbridled and prolonged electricity load-shedding.
Due to the increase in population, the existing Wana Grid Station is unable to meet the growing electricity needs of the area, which has worsened the power crisis.
In view of this, the approval and establishment of a new grid station is indispensable to improve the power supply in the area.
Public circles have demanded that the concerned authorities take immediate steps for a permanent solution to this problem.
According to local residents, the area is experiencing up to 18 to 20 hours of load-shedding daily, making life miserable especially for students, patients, and shopkeepers. The prolonged power outages have also caused acute water shortage as water supply schemes and domestic water pumps remain non-functional.
Sources said that the only Wana Grid Station was established decades ago when the population was much less. With rapid increase in population, expansion of Wana bazaar, and establishment of new housing colonies, markets, and commercial centers, the load has increased manifold. The existing grid station with its old and outdated infrastructure is now completely unable to bear the growing electricity demand.
Local elders said that the transformers trip frequently, low voltage has become a routine, and valuable electrical appliances of the people are being burnt due to voltage fluctuation.
Traders in Wana bazaar said that their businesses have been badly affected. Tailors, welders, barbers, and those running photocopy and computer shops cannot run their businesses without electricity and are forced to use expensive generators, which increases their cost.
Students are the worst affected as they cannot study at night and online classes have become impossible. Patients at homes who need oxygen or nebulizers are also facing life-threatening situations
The public, political and social circles of Wana have strongly demanded from the Federal Government, Ministry of Energy, WAPDA, and TESCO authorities to approve and establish a new, high-capacity grid station in Wana on an emergency basis.
They said that provision of uninterrupted electricity is a basic right of the people and that a permanent solution to the load-shedding crisis is only possible with the construction of a new grid station and upgrading of the transmission lines.
They warned that if the issue is not resolved immediately, they will be forced to launch a protest movement.
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