RAWALPINDI: Citizens ofIslamabadandRawalpindi had to face an extended period of power loadshedding on Thursday which Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (Iesco) blamed on technical fault in the main transmission line.

Many localities had to endure prolonged loadshedding throughout the day.

First the supply was suspended for four hours from Sam to 9am, then again from 11am to 12 noon; 1pm to 2:45pm; 4pm to 6pm and then from 7pm to 9pm.

In some places like Westridge, Dhoke Ratta, Raja Bazaar, Pirwadhai, Shamsabad, I.J. Principal Road, I-9, I-10, G-6, Aabpara and the adjoining areas, people complained that electricity supply was restored only for 15 minutes after every two hours.

`We kept dialing the numbers of the local complaint office and sub-divisional superintendent, but there was no response. The Iesco officials had switched off their mobile phones, said Mohammad Akram, a resident of Allahabad.

He said instead of providing electricity for 18 hours, the government has even failed to ensure availability of electricity for six hours.

He said besides electricity, they also remained withoutwater.

Nisar Hussain, a resident of Pirwadhai, said gas and electricity was not available to the people despite the fact that they received inflated utility bills. `We are paying bills regularly but the government has failed to provide utility services,` he said.

He said electricity was required to run all electric appliances but due to the suspension, we had to purchase cool(ed food.

Saleem Ahmed, a resident of Raja Bazaar, said frequent power cuts were effecting the daily life of the people. He said the government did not carry out loadshedding during the sit-ins of PAT and PTI, but now it has started increased the loadshedding timings.

Sharjeel Ahmed, a shopkeeper at Raja Bazaar, complained of poor business due to frequent power failures.

He said many shops had to use generators to keep their business running.

When contacted, Iesco Chief Engineer Operation Fiaz Hussain said a technical fault had occurred in the main transmission line which affected the supply in the twin cities.

To a question, he said the situation was not in the control of Iesco. The company can only supply electricity once it is available to it. The situation will improve soon, he said.