Residents Demand Free Electricity from Suki Kinari Hydropower Project

Balakot tehsil's residents and local government officials are urging for free electricity from the new Suki Kinari hydropower project. The project, expected to be operational by October, has sparked a movement demanding the provision of promised relief packages, with meetings planned with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

On Monday, a committee comprising local government representatives and residents in Balakot tehsil called for free electricity from the recently completed Suki Kinari hydropower project. The project is slated for commissioning in the first week of October, as reported by Dawn. Fahad Yalmaz, chairman of the Garhi Habibullah village council, announced at a committee meeting, 'We have launched a movement to press the government for the provision of free electricity to the people of Balakot. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Sardar Mohammad Yusuf has also discussed the matter with the Prime Minister, and we expect a positive outcome before the inauguration of the power station in the first week of October.'

The committee also agreed to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before the inauguration of the 880 MW hydropower project over the Kunhar River in Kaghan Valley. Javed Iqbal, president of the Balakot Traders' Association, stated that the community had sacrificed their lands for the energy project, yet authorities had not fulfilled promised relief packages, including school and health facilities construction for those affected, as reported by Dawn. He mentioned that MNA Sardar Yusuf had raised the issue of free electricity with the Prime Minister. Last Saturday, residents of Balakot tehsil blocked the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road for over three hours, demanding free electricity from local dams.

In July, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) announced an electricity tariff increase of PKR 2.56 per unit, according to ARY News. This hike exacerbates the financial burden consumers are facing due to rising energy costs. In the same month, K-Electric announced that electricity consumers in Karachi would receive inflated bills in August, ARY News reported.

Despite having a variety of energy sources, including hydropower, natural gas, and coal, Pakistan continues to experience power shortages. The electricity supply frequently falls short of demand, leading to load shedding lasting several hours daily in many regions. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)