*QUETTA – For 15 years, Iran supplied electricity to Balochistan’s Makrandivision. Protests have broken out in the division as the country has cutoff the supply due to its own power crisis.*

On Monday, the people of Gwadar, Kech and Panjgur had to make do withoutelectricity from 10am until 12 in the night. The power cuts have worsenedthe water crisis in the area. The demand for ice has also gone up in thehot weather.

The power supply company, Qesco, says that they have been facing difficultyin supplying electricity for 12 hours to the Makran division since Iran cutoff the supply. The utility’s spokesperson said they have taken up theissue with Iranian authorities to come up with a permanent solution.

In September 2003, Pakistan entered into an agreement with Iran for powersupply to Balochistan. Iran supplied 35 megawatts daily between 2003 and2013. In former CM Dr Abdul Malik’s tenure, the amount was increased from35 megawatt to 100 megawatt.

Iran has now suspended the supply due to the country’s own power crisis.