District Swabi has long suffered since the establishment of Pakistan’s federal government. Known for its rich culture, traditions, and hospitality, Swabi boasts vast fertile lands and is a major producer of tobacco, generating millions in revenue for the federal government. Swabi also plays a pivotal role in Pakistan’s economic and industrial development, producing sugarcane, vegetables, and other cash crops.
Located in Tehsil Topi, Swabi is home to the Tarbela Dam, established in 1960. Tarbela is the largest hydroelectric project in Asia, with the capacity to generate 3,478 MW of electricity. Despite the dam’s significant contribution to Pakistan’s power grid, the local population, particularly in Tehsil Topi, has suffered immensely. Residents lost their lands, properties, and livelihoods as 40,000 acres of land were submerged by the dam. Graves of their forefathers were also affected by the dam’s construction, leaving the people of Topi with no compensation for their sacrifices.
The electricity generated by Tarbela Dam costs just Rs. 3 to 4 per unit, but the federal government, through WAPDA, charges consumers between Rs. 17 to 65 per unit. This disparity is seen as economic injustice, especially to the people of Swabi and Topi, who have borne the brunt of the project’s consequences. Adding insult to injury, 80% of the workforce employed by WAPDA at Tarbela are from outside Swabi, primarily Punjab, leaving the locals with limited employment opportunities.
The people of Swabi have tolerated these injustices for more than 60 years. Despite supplying electricity to the entire country, Swabi has not reaped any benefits. The region’s Gadoon Industrial Zone, once a thriving hub, is now nearly defunct due to the exorbitant cost of electricity, leaving around 40,000 people jobless.
This situation has led the residents of Swabi to take action. The “Da Haq Awaz Tanzeem,” led by renowned journalist Ihsan Ul Haq Bamkhelvi, first raised the issue of affordable electricity for Swabi. The movement has since gained traction, with other local organizations, like the Swabi Action Committee, joining the cause.
Da Haq Awaz Tanzeem has previously organized 14 protests at the district headquarters in Swabi, opposing WAPDA and the district administration. Despite signing agreements, local authorities repeatedly broke their promises, leaving the people of Swabi with no choice but to escalate their demands.
On September 16, 2024, Da Haq Awaz Tanzeem will lead a massive strike at Tarbela Dam’s Red Zone, calling for the federal government to meet their legal demands, which include:
1. 300 units of electricity per household at Rs. 4 per unit for District Swabi.
2. Adjustment of previous additional taxes unfairly charged to Swabi residents.
3. Accountability for 60 years of Tarbela Dam’s electricity royalty and its use by the KPK government.
4. Priority employment for Swabi residents at Tarbela before hiring outsiders.
5. Full audit of tobacco revenue collected from Swabi over the past 40 years.
6. Compensation for those affected by the dam and the riverbank.
7. Declaring District Swabi a load-shedding-free zone.
8. Revitalization of Gadoon Industrial Zone and restoration of closed industrial units.
9. Removal of additional taxes imposed on Gadoon Industrial Zone.
10. Employment preference for locals before hiring from other provinces.
11. Immediate removal of the recently imposed Rs. 1000 meter tax on commercial customers.
Due to severe electricity shortages, tax burdens, and the closure of hundreds of industrial units, Swabi’s economy is in crisis. The people demand swift government action, a fair electricity rate of Rs. 3 per unit, and the rightful distribution of Tarbela Dam royalties to improve the health and education sectors of KPK, especially in Swabi. Without immediate attention to these demands, the people of Swabi are prepared to take drastic action.
