GILGIT: For the past four days, there has been a severe electrical deficit for Gilgit City’s citizens.
The water and electricity department reports that since Wednesday, when a boulder struck the facility’s water channel, the 18 megawatt Naltar power station’s supply has been shut off.
It stated that upkeep was still ongoing at the location and that electricity would not be restored until October 2.
The inhabitants reported that they were experiencing outages for more than 20 hours, which has hampered their daily lives.
The outrages in the region were attributed to old machinery, poorly planned power plants, poor administration, and financial misappropriation in the water and electricity department.
Gilgit resident Nazakat Ali told Dawn that the protracted shortages caused everyday life to come to a complete halt in the city.
Another resident, Safdar Hussain, stated that although the supply of electricity increased throughout the summer, it was frequently interrupted due to landslides and floods at the Naltar and other power plants.
“Those most impacted include professionals, housewives, students, and those involved in online business. Every commercial, health, education, and tourist activity continued to be interrupted, he claimed.
Subsequent governments in Gilgit and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan failed to guarantee a continuous supply of electricity, even though they spent billions of rupees.
Local resident Nisar Ahmed claimed the powerhouses suffered damages as a result of their shoddy construction and bad designs.
He claimed that although GB had the ability to produce hydropower, the government had not taken advantage of the available resources.
The media was informed by Secretary Water and Power Sanaullah that attempts were being made to bring back the Gilgit city’s electricity supply.
He claimed that the boulder had seriously damaged the water channel and that steel frames will be erected to let water flow while guaranteeing the security of the nearby towns.
