Hundreds of citizens in Kuchlak took to the streets on Friday to protest against the prolonged gas and electricity outages that have disrupted daily life in the town and surrounding areas of Quetta district.
The demonstration, organized under the banner of the Pushtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), began with a rally that marched through various roads in Kuchlak before culminating on the Quetta-Chaman highway. Protesters, chanting slogans in support of their demands, staged a sit-in on the highway, drawing attention to the worsening energy crisis.
Speaking at the protest, PkMAP provincial secretary Kabeer Afghan and other leaders condemned the persistent gas load shedding during the winter months, describing it as a grave injustice to the residents of Kuchlak and Quetta. They highlighted how the outages had made life unbearable, especially in the harsh winter conditions.
‘Frequent incidents, including accidents and health issues caused by the unavailability of gas, have claimed the lives of citizens,’ one speaker remarked, urging the authorities to take immediate action.
The protesters also criticized the ongoing power outages, which they said had brought routine activities to a standstill. Residents face challenges in cooking, heating, and other essential tasks due to the dual crisis of gas and electricity shortages.
The PkMAP leaders warned that if the government failed to address their grievances, they would escalate their protests. They called on the federal and provincial governments, as well as the relevant authorities, to ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity to the affected areas.
Traffic on the Quetta-Chaman highway remained suspended for hours due to the demonstration, causing inconvenience to commuters. However, the protesters vowed to continue their struggle until their demands were met. The authorities were yet to issue a statement regarding the protest at the time of filing this report.