ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): A crippling electricity crisis has plagued the lives of over 90,000 residents in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), prompting District Councilor Sardar Mumtaz Khan and Union Council Tain Chairman Sardar Shahid Azad to take a step to save the population from the trauma.
The two leaders have handed a joint letter to senior Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) officials, demanding the immediate completion of the Mong Grid Station upgrade from 33/11 KV to 132/11 KV.
Despite work commencing in 2019, the project remains unfinished, with only seven poles left to be fixed.
The stalled upgrade has severe consequences for the affected communities.
Over 10,000 students are unable to study effectively due to daily load-shedding lasting 6-8 hours.
AJK businesses
Over 3,000 local businesses are shuttering, triggering job losses and forcing skilled workers to migrate.
The crisis disrupts water supply from electric borehole pumps, leading to severe health risks, malnutrition, and stunted growth among children.
Councilor Khan has emphasized that the delay not only demands action but the ensuing humanitarian crisis jeopardizes lives, education, and livelihoods.
“Our communities have suffered in silence for too long. This upgrade is a matter of survival,” he said.
The joint appeal demands that IESCO, in coordination with WAPDA, NEPRA, and the AJK Electricity Department, to expedite the completion of the project and implement immediate measures to stabilize voltage and prevent further transformer failures.
Councilor Khan and Chairman Shahid Azad called upon federal and regional authorities to intervene and ensure that bureaucratic delays are eliminated, securing a reliable power supply for the affected communities.
