PESHAWAR: The FATA Secretariat in Peshawar has been plunged into darkness after the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) disconnected electricity to the facility, despite receiving over Rs102 million in pending dues earlier this month.
The abrupt power cut, initiated on Wednesday evening, has severely disrupted operations across several key government departments housed within the FATA Secretariat on Warsak Road. These include the Department of Information and Public Relations, the Directorate General of Health, and the Department of Minerals and Mineral Development.
The blackout has not only paralysed essential administrative functions but also created immense difficulties for citizens seeking services from these offices. According to official sources, the Secretary of Information and Public Relations, who also serves as the Secretary of Administration for the FATA Secretariat, had submitted a payment of over Rs102 million on June 17 to clear outstanding electricity dues. Despite this, PESCO proceeded with the disconnection.
When FATA Secretariat officials contacted PESCO for an explanation, they were informed that the disconnection was due to unresolved dues associated with the Directorate General of Health. However, these dues reportedly date back to the period when the office operated out of the Health Secretariat on Khyber Road, not its current location within the FATA Secretariat.
Senior officials from the affected departments have expressed strong criticism of PESCO’s move, labelling it as unjustified and unlawful. They argue that punishing current officers for legacy issues — especially after a large payment has already been made — is an administrative overreach. The officials have demanded an immediate restoration of electricity and urged for strict action against those responsible for the disconnection.
As of now, essential services remain stalled, and pressure is mounting on authorities to resolve the issue swiftly to prevent further disruption to public service delivery.
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