Kalat shuts down as citizens protest march against inflated QESCO bills

The city of Kalat witnessed a massive protest on Sunday as citizens, trade unions, and political parties united against QESCO’s inflated electricity bills.

A shutter-down strike was observed across markets while residents held demonstrations, 24NewsDH TV channel reported on Sunday.

An All Parties Conference, organised at the Municipal Committee’s lawn, saw a large gathering of political leaders, union representatives, and ordinary citizens holding their excessive bills in hand.

Following the meeting, participants staged a peaceful rally that marched through major roads before turning into a public gathering at Bazaar Chowk.

The protest was led by Citizens Action Committee President Mir Munir Ahmed Shahwani, Haji Aziz Mughal, and Mufti Tayyab Haidari.

Speakers accused QESCO of charging farmers despite the conversion of agricultural tube wells to solar power.

“Electricity that is not being supplied is shown as units consumed, and bills are being imposed on poor farmers,” they alleged.

Protesters further claimed that in other districts, where tube wells had been shifted to solar systems, bills had dropped significantly, but Kalat consumers were still burdened with excessive charges.

Announcing their next move, leaders declared a complete shutter-down strike on Monday, August 25, until their demands for the withdrawal of inflated bills are met.

Reporter: Qadir Shah