April 18, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 11, 1429

DERA GHAZI KHAN, April 17: The Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) has reduced the duration of loadshedding to avert Multan-like riots after the Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran and the Dera Ghazi Khan Chamber of Commerce and Industries warned the company of protests if loadshedding was not reduced.

Long spells of power breakdowns in the district paralyzed routine life, which led to protests and road blockades in rural areas along Dera-Quetta Road.

A couple of days ago, people in Kot Chhutha made announcements on mosque megaphones calling for a strike and also blocked the road in protest against Mepco for unannounced loadshedding. In Karimabad, Shadan Lund, residents blocked the highway while residents of Sakhi Sarwar also staged protests.

In the DG Khan city, traders and the chamber also joined rural people and announced a deadline to the company to reduce loadshedding or they would give a strike call against Mepco.

The office-bearers of Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran also joined the dissidents.

Seeing the district simmering with protesting voices, Mepco (operations manager) Wakeel Ahmed Nadir announced that loadshedding time had been reduced.