Bannu could face widespread electricity outages after the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) alleged that repeated forced restoration of high-loss feeders by armed individuals has severely damaged a key high-voltage transformer at the Bannu and Sarai Naurang grid stations.
Speaking to ProPakistani, the Secretary Power said the incidents are part of a recurring pattern in which armed groups allegedly enter grid stations and force staff to switch on high-loss feeders, putting excessive strain on the electricity network and damaging critical infrastructure.
According to PESCO, the latest incidents took place on June 24, June 25, and June 27.
The utility claimed that the brother of a sitting MPA and a former provincial minister, accompanied by armed associates, entered the Bannu and Sarai Naurang grid stations and forcibly restored electricity to high-loss feeders. PESCO alleged that the group remained inside the facilities overnight to prevent officials from switching the feeders off.
The company said the unauthorized operation of these feeders overloaded the grid and severely affected the high-voltage transformer. While repair work is underway, PESCO warned that any further overloading could trigger a major technical fault, potentially causing large-scale power outages across the Bannu region.
PESCO said it has approached the relevant police stations to register criminal cases against the individuals named in its complaints. However, the utility claimed that no FIR has been lodged so far.
The company further stated that similar incidents have been occurring for years and that it has repeatedly informed the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Commissioner of Bannu, and the Regional Police Officer Bannu. Despite these complaints, PESCO said no effective action has been taken, leaving its staff unable to prevent armed individuals from entering grid stations.
PESCO also alleged that the continued operation of high-loss, electricity theft-prone feeders has encouraged non-payment of electricity bills while increasing power consumption, particularly due to heavy air-conditioner usage.
The utility warned that unless the issue is resolved, the already overloaded grid could suffer a major breakdown, disrupting electricity supply to consumers across the Bannu region.
