Power Outages Ignite Protests in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan

Residents of Jatial city in Gilgit Baltistan protest against severe electricity shortages, demanding immediate action from authorities as a malfunctioning transformer leaves over 300 homes without power. The ongoing outages have exacerbated hardships during Ramadan, leading to widespread frustration and threats of escalated protests.

In Jatial city, situated in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan, residents have launched vigorous protests against enduring electricity shortages, as chronicled by Markhor Times. Daily life has been profoundly impacted due to a malfunctioning transformer that left over 300 homes without consistent power, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.

The unrest commenced at the Public Chowk, where agitated citizens clamored for swift governmental intervention. One protestor declared, "We will stage a protest outside the CM's house and the secretary's office if our demands continue to be ignored." Per reports, the crisis began with the failure of one of the two local transformers, leaving the community reliant on one insufficient unit.

The extant transformer has struggled to meet demands, providing merely an hour and a half of electricity in the evening and 40 minutes in the afternoon. This scarcity has severely hampered the observance of Ramadan, as residents grapple with disrupted access to essential appliances and cooling systems. Assurances from officials, including promises of a new transformer installation, have not alleviated public dismay.

As frustrations mount, locals have threatened to intensify their demonstrations with the Awami Action Committee should immediate solutions remain elusive. Urgent efforts are being called for to resolve the transformer issue and restore reliable power supply, as underscored by Markhor Times.

(With inputs from agencies.)