MANSEHRA: Residents have demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to release funds for the blacktopping of a key road connecting Oghi and Darband tehsils with the Karakoram Highway and Hazara Expressway.

`The previous Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government had sanctioned Rs220 million for the blacktopping of the Oghi-Battal Road, but the project remains incomplete, causing immense difficulties for motorists and passengers,` Syed Rehman Shah, a local resident, told reporters on Sunday.

Flanked by a group of locals, he said the road was in an extremely dilapidated condition, forcing motorists and passenger vehicles to avoid it. `We face difficulties in shifting patients to health facilities in other parts of Hazara division due to the poor road condition, and even when drivers agree, they demand extra fares,` Mr Shah said.

He said that the previous KP government had initiated work on the 17km road withRs220 million in approved funds, but the contractor abandoned the project after blacktopping only three kilometres.

`We have raised this issue with the communication and works department twice, but neither has work resumed, nor has the government released additional funds,` he said.

Mr Shah urged PTI MPA Akram Ghazi, who is also the chairman of the District Development Advisory Committee, to take up the matter in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to ensure the early release of funds for the road`s completion.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz tehsil president Qazi Zahidullah has called on the government to release funds for the beautification of Oghi town and its surrounding areas.

`The previous tehsil council, in which I served as deputy tehsil nazim, had approved a master plan for Oghi`s beautification, but the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has yet to allocate funds for its implementation, he told reporters.

POWER OUTAGES: The city and its suburbs have been experiencing frequent power outages throughout the day, and during Sehri, annoying domestic consumers.

The Peshawar Electric Supply Company has been suspending power supply every alternate hour, even during Sehri, troubling patients at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital in Ramazan.`We cannot understand why these outages are taking place when the winter season is still on and there is no electricity shortage.

Despite this, Pesco continues outages throughout the day and even during Sehri, Sadagat Ali, a local resident said.

He said that the prime minister, as in previous years, had announced that there would be no outages during Ramazan.

`However, Pesco has failed to comply with his orders.

`Would you believe that my family, like many others, has to prepare Sehri in complete darkness, making the situation extremely difficult,` Mr Ali added.

Another resident, Mohammad Shaukat, highlighted that while many consumers had installed Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems, most had to unplug them due to soaring electricity tariffs.

`With the highest-ever increase in electricity tariffs, nearly all households have removed their UPS systems to reduce their utility bills, but now they are facing severe difficulties due to frequent power outages, he said.

Mr Shaukat urged Pesco to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, especially during Ramazan.

`The prime minister should take notice of these power outages and hold accountable all those responsible,` he demanded.