Growing public frustration has boiled over in Abbottabad and the tourist hub of Galyat as prolonged electricity outages continue to trigger a near-total collapse of Ufone and Telenor mobile signals. Local residents, business owners, and commuters report that the moment the power grid shuts down, cellular networks from both service providers either drop to unusable levels or vanish entirely. This persistent issue has brought voice calls, internet services, and online activities to a complete standstill, causing acute distress across the rugged terrain of the Galyat region where communities are frequently plunged into complete digital isolation during load-shedding hours.
The localized digital blackout is causing immediate socioeconomic damage, severely disrupting the daily routines of students, remote workers, and local traders. Freelancers and online workers report facing severe financial losses due to missed deadlines and disconnected communications with clients, while students are struggling to access online educational portals and research materials. Consumers have expressed deep anger over the situation, pointing out that despite constant hikes in mobile package prices, the quality of service continues to deteriorate. They argue that mobile companies are failing to maintain the necessary power backup systems, such as batteries and generators, at their network towers to sustain connectivity during blackouts.
In response to the growing crisis, public quarters and civic bodies have called upon the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the management of Ufone and Telenor to intervene immediately. Residents are demanding that effective backup infrastructure be installed at all regional tower sites to guarantee uninterrupted service during power failures. Local community leaders have warned that if prompt corrective measures are not taken to restore reliable connectivity, the relevant companies and regulatory authorities will face intense public backlash, consumer boycotts, and widespread protests across the region
