The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) has warned of a potential power crisis in the Bannu region after alleging that repeated unauthorized activation of high-loss electricity feeders has damaged a high-voltage transformer and placed the local power grid under severe strain.
According to the Secretary Power, the incidents are part of an ongoing pattern in which armed individuals allegedly enter grid stations and force staff to restore electricity to high-loss feeders, causing excessive load on the network and damaging critical infrastructure.
PESCO said the latest incidents took place on June 24, June 25, and June 27 at the Bannu and Sarai Naurang grid stations.
The utility alleged that the brother of a sitting Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), along with a former provincial minister and armed associates, entered the two grid stations and forcibly switched on high-loss feeders. According to the company, the individuals remained at the facilities overnight to prevent staff from disconnecting the feeders.
PESCO stated that the unauthorized restoration of electricity overloaded the system and severely affected the high-voltage transformer at the grid station. While repair work is currently underway, the utility warned that continued overloading could trigger a major technical fault, potentially disrupting electricity supply across the entire Bannu region.
The company said it has submitted applications to the relevant police authorities seeking the registration of criminal cases against the individuals named in its complaint. However, it claimed that no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered so far.
PESCO further stated that similar incidents have occurred repeatedly over the past several years. The utility said it has regularly informed the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Commissioner of Bannu, and the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Bannu about the issue, but no effective legal action has been taken. It added that its staff is unable to prevent armed individuals from entering grid stations.
The company also alleged that the continued operation of high-loss and electricity theft-prone feeders has encouraged widespread non-payment of electricity bills while increasing power consumption, particularly through the use of air conditioners.
PESCO warned that unless immediate action is taken to prevent unauthorized interference with the electricity network, the overloaded grid could suffer a major breakdown, resulting in widespread power outages for consumers across the Bannu region.
