Balochistan: In another series of protests in Pakistan’s Balochistan, residents of Pasni, a tehsil of Gwadar district of Balochistan, protested against the persistent water shortage in the area, reports Balochistan Post.
The protest was led mainly by women and traffic came to a temporary halt as they gathered in front of the assistant commissioner’s office in Pasni.
The protesters expressed concern over the ongoing water crisis in the city and demanded immediate restoration of water supply.
He attributed the shortage to the disconnection of power from the Public Health Department’s water supply stations by the local electricity provider QESCO Pasni, citing non-payment of adequate bills, Balochistan Post reported.
He further lamented that the inaction of both QESCO Pasni and the Public Health Department has left residents without water for more than a week.
Following the shortage, residents had to rely heavily on water tankers for their daily needs, disrupting their everyday lives.
Faheem Ali Johar, vice-chairman of municipal committee Pasni, echoed the sentiments of the protesters, according to the Balochistan Post.
He further explained that there is an artificial water crisis and emphasized that the issue has reached a critical point and is adversely affecting the residents of Pasni.
Later, Johar expressed concern about the dependence on water tankers and highlighted the urgency to resolve the crisis.
Furthermore, as the situation became tense, he warned that if the situation was not addressed the protests would escalate, along with local councillors.
He then called for immediate government intervention to mediate between QESCO Pasni and the Public Health Department and work out a long-term solution for water provision in the area.
There are many protests in Balochistan regarding forced disappearance of people, human rights violations and now water shortage.
