Zhob Power Crisis: Traders Demand Immediate QESCO Action Over Outages

Unannounced power cuts lasting between 14 and 18 hours daily in Zhob have crippled commercial activity across northern Balochistan, prompting the Central Anjuman-e-Tajiran to issue an urgent ultimatum to the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO). Business leadership is demanding immediate intervention from QESCO Chief Executive Officer to overhaul local distribution lines and restore grid stability to prevent economic collapse in the district.

Crippled Commerce Along the N-50 Corridor

For decades, Zhob has functioned as a critical trading hub linking northern Balochistan with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and South Waziristan along the strategic N-50 national highway. Today, that commercial engine is grinding to a halt. In key commercial centers including the Main Bazaar, Ganj Bazaar, and the Silk Road Commercial Complex, merchants report that electricity remains unavailable during primary working hours between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

Cold storage facilities holding perishable agricultural produce—specifically fresh apples, grapes, and tomatoes harvested from nearby valleys—face operational failure. Backup diesel generators cost small traders up to three times their normal operating overhead, consuming nearly 40% of average daily revenue. Small-scale manufacturing workshops, welding units, tailoring centers, and digital printing presses report operating at under 20% of baseline capacity.

Systemic Grid Failure and Utility Mismanagement

The operational crisis stems from aging transmission infrastructure under QESCO's administrative jurisdiction, which relies on extended 11kV distribution feeders passing through rugged terrain. Overloaded transformers across Zhob routinely trip during high-demand hours, while maintenance teams face chronic shortages of replacement hardware, cables, and technical personnel at the local grid station.

Rather than executing targeted infrastructure upgrades, QESCO continues to enforce wide-area feeder load shedding to offset aggregate transmission and dispatch losses. This operational approach penalizes regular, bill-paying commercial establishments connected to feeders that serve high-loss residential or agricultural sectors. Indiscriminate power cuts disrupt commercial schedules without addressing the root causes of distribution loss.

Anjuman-e-Tajiran Demands Immediate Operational Overhaul

Representing hundreds of registered commercial entities, the leadership of Central Anjuman-e-Tajiran Zhob officially petitioned the QESCO management to enforce immediate operational remedies. The trade body's demands focus on securing uninterrupted power during core business hours, establishing separate commercial feeders, and immediately replacing damaged transformers in high-density market zones.

If QESCO fails to dispatch specialized technical repair units and restructure the regional load-management schedule within days, local commercial leaders have announced plans for a complete shutter-down strike and the blockade of the N-50 highway. Business operators emphasize that sustained trade along this critical northern corridor cannot survive without predictable grid power.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is driving the severe power outages in Zhob?

Outages exceeding 14 to 18 hours daily are caused by QESCO's aging grid infrastructure, overloaded 11kV feeders, and broad line-loss load management policies.

How are local business owners in Zhob coping with the power crisis?

Business owners are forced to rely on expensive diesel generators that consume up to 40% of their daily profit margins, while workshops face severe productivity losses.

What actions has the Central Anjuman-e-Tajiran Zhob demanded from QESCO?

The trade association has demanded dedicated commercial feeders during operating hours, immediate replacement of damaged transformers, and an end to unannounced load shedding.