Residents of Kalat, including women and children, have taken to the streets in protest against the severe shortages of gas and electricity amid the region’s harsh winter conditions.
The protesters, grappling with the continuous absence of essential utilities and faced with high bills despite the lack of services, blocked the Quetta-Karachi highway, causing significant traffic disruptions.
“Kalat is the coldest region in Balochistan, and during this harsh winter, we are facing unbearable difficulties due to the constant suspension of gas, exorbitant bills, and prolonged, unannounced electricity load shedding,” said the protesters, highlighting the severity of their plight.
In response to the protest, local authorities, including Additional Deputy Commissioner Siraj Baloch, SHO Kalat Habib-ur-Rehman Babai, and Additional SHO Kalat Levies Abdul Karim Mengal, initiated negotiations with the demonstrators.
These talks led to the protesters dispersing peacefully, and the highway was subsequently reopened to traffic. However, the protesters said that should the issues with the gas and electricity supply not be resolved permanently, further protests will ensue.