The excessive electricity load shedding, started by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) once again echoed in NWFP Assembly, compelling the government to ask the federal government for grant of respite to the people of the province.
The matter was raised by Dr Haider Ali, of ANP, who said that the suspension of power supply to the district of Swat for last 9 consecutive days had also created water scarcity in the area.
He said that the people had volunteered to work along with the officials of Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) for re-erection of the electricity installations damaged by the miscreants in the area. He called for immediate restoration of power supply to the area, saying that it was creating many problems in the district.
Zahir Shah, of PML-Q, from Shangla said that fault in the power transformer of Tah Kohat Grid Station had deprived consumers of the district of power supply for last 10 to 12 days.
Fazlullah, from the same district, said that the district was facing lawlessness and in the wake of the growing militancy local people themselves had started patrolling the roads. Mohammad Qasim, of MMA, said that despite the announcements of the federal government the load shedding was still continuing. NWFP Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour requested Federal Minister for Safran, Najmuddin, who was sitting in the Speaker Gallery, to bring the matter to the notice of the federal government.
Speaker Kiramatullah Khan also brought it to the notice of the federal minister. However, his use of 'Pakhtoonkhwa' was objected by the PML-Q member Nighat Yasmeen Orakzai. The speaker requested the federal minister to raise the matter at the level of federal government and relieve the people of the menace of heavy load shedding.
Later, the Speaker announced that polling for presidential poll would be held on September 6 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. He said that all members of the house are entitled to vote in the poll. However, he urged the members to receive their identity cards from the assembly secretariat.