Power Crisis in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir: Residents Demand Better Solutions
Residents of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) are facing severe power cuts, affecting daily life and economic activities. Despite a decrease in electricity prices after protests in May, load-shedding has worsened.
Local Businessman’s Concerns
Local businessman Khuwaja Abdul Samad criticized the outdated power infrastructure, stating, “Even when there’s electricity, it’s difficult to run a fan due to extremely low voltage. This is severely impacting our businesses.” He emphasized the need for urgent upgrades to the power system.
Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project Criticized
Despite having the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, the area continues to suffer from power issues. Samad called the project a colossal failure and suggested creating mini hydropower projects as a more sustainable and cost-effective solution.
Call for Direct Electricity Supply
Samad also urged that the system of sending electricity to Pakistan’s grid must stop, advocating for direct electricity supply to PoJK to benefit local businesses and residents.
Residents’ Frustration
Residents have long accused local authorities of prioritizing Islamabad’s interests over PoJK’s needs, leading to ongoing economic and infrastructural challenges.
Doubts Revealed
Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) -: PoJK is a region that is part of the larger area of Jammu and Kashmir. It is currently controlled by Pakistan, but India also claims it as part of its territory.
Power cuts -: Power cuts are times when the electricity supply is stopped for a while. This can make it hard for people to do things like use lights, fans, or other electric devices.
Load-shedding -: Load-shedding is when the electricity supply is turned off in certain areas to save power. This usually happens when there is not enough electricity to go around.
Khuwaja Abdul Samad -: Khuwaja Abdul Samad is a local businessman in PoJK. He is speaking out about the problems with the electricity supply in the region.
Mini hydropower projects -: Mini hydropower projects are small power plants that use the energy from flowing water to generate electricity. They can be built on small rivers or streams.
Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project -: The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project is a large power plant in PoJK that was supposed to generate electricity using water from the Neelum and Jhelum rivers. However, it has not worked as well as expected.
Pakistan’s grid -: Pakistan’s grid is the network of power lines and stations that supply electricity to different parts of Pakistan. The electricity from PoJK is sent to this grid instead of being used directly in PoJK.
