RESHUN: The public protest sit-in against electricity tariffs being charged by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) entered the third consecutive day in Reshun on Sunday.
The participants of the sit-in, joined by women a day earlier when police tried to disperse the protesters by force, are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the new rates and restoration of the previous tariff.
Protesters have blocked the Chitral-Mastuj Road at Ramdas Chowk, bringing traffic to a standstill. Long queues of vehicles formed on both sides of the road after the blockade remained in place for around 28 hours.
The protesters said repeated agreements and assurances by the government and local administration had failed to address their concerns.
Considering the difficulties faced by stranded passengers, particularly women, children and elderly people, local elders and religious leaders temporarily reopened the road for an hour to allow vehicles to pass. The road was subsequently blocked again.
The protesters have urged the government and senior officials to engage in immediate negotiations and resolve the issue peacefully. They warned that the sit-in and protest campaign would continue until the previous electricity tariff is restored.
Increase in tariffs
According to a notification issued on May 24, 2023, the electricity tariffs were revised for consumers of the Reshun Hydropower Station under an agreement between PEDO and PESCO, also signed by the elected and political leadership of Chitral.
The notification set residential rates ranging from Rs13.48 per unit for the first 100 units to Rs35.22 per unit for consumption above 700 units, while commercial consumers using less than 5 kilowatts were charged Rs30.25 per unit.
According to the document, the revised tariffs were approved under a Memorandum of Understanding between PEDO and PESCO, with the involvement of political representatives and community elders from Chitral.
The notification also stated that the rates could be increased or decreased in line with changes in PESCO’s tariff slabs.
Residents, however, say the tariff arrangement has placed an unfair financial burden on local consumers and accuse the authorities of failing to honour previous assurances regarding electricity rates.