All the three districts are facing 16 to 18 hours of power suspension on a daily basis amid temperatures ranging between 51 and 52 degrees Centigrade. AP/File
GWADAR: Thousands of people took to the streets in Turbat, the divisional headquarters of Makran division, on Wednesday to protest against frequent and prolonged power outages in all the three districts of Kech, Gwadar and Panjgur.
The participants, carrying placards and banners inscribed with their demands, marched on various streets and chanted slogans against the government and Qesco officials.
All the three districts are facing 16 to 18 hours of power suspension on a daily basis amid temperatures ranging between 51 and 52 degrees Centigrade.
Pakistan: Unions shut down Balochistan government workers’ strike as state threatens crackdown
A two-week strike by thousands of long-exploited government sector workers in Pakistan’s Balochistan province was shut down by an alliance of trade unions last Friday following a court order declaring their job action “illegal.”
The strikers, who are confronting menacing threats of state repression, are demanding a pay hike of 25 percent, and allowances like those paid provincial government workers in other provinces. The demand for higher wages resonates among working people across the country, who are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living skyrockets.
Farmers and other people protesting against long durations of loadshedding blocked different highways in Balochistan on Thursday. DawnNewsTV
QUETTA: Farmers and other people protesting against long durations of loadshedding blocked different highways in Balochistan on Thursday.
Hundreds of protesters gathered on highways in Khuzdar, Kalat, Hub, Kolpur, Lakpas, Loralai, Kuchlak, Pishin and Yaru areas and put obstacles there, causing traffic jams for hours.
The protests were organised on the call of Zamindar Action Committee after a deadline given to the Quetta Electricity Supply Company to reduce the duration of loadshedding ended.
The protesters announced that they would continue to block highways until the duration of loadshedding was reduced. Hundreds of buses and trucks carrying goods for different cities of Balochistan and Afghan transit trade were stranded at different places due to blocking of roads at about 20 places.
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