Lights out in Lyari : Elected representatives warn KE of protests

Claim power utility subjecting them to unjust load-shedding

KARACHI: Elected representatives from Lyari have warned the city's power utility of protests if the electricity problem in their locality is not resolved within three days.

All 15 union-council chairmen and sitting MPA of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from Lyari, Javed Nagori, criticised the 'wrong policies' of K-Electric (KE) at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday.

The elected local government representatives, belonging to PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Jamaat-e-Islami, complained of excessive load-shedding in the area, especially at night, and warned that if the problem is not resolved within three days, they will protest outside the KE head office.

The disruption of power has resulted in an acute water crisis in the area, warned the local leaders, adding that the entire sewerage system has also been disrupted due to the non-functioning of pumping stations.

Nagori suggested that water pumping stations be exempted from power cuts throughout the day to ensure uninterrupted supply of water to residents. "The government and state institutions should control the power company," he said, demanding the Rangers director-general to take action against KE since 'they are trying to disturb the city's peace'.



The MPA and former katchi abadi minister said despite an 80% recovery of dues from the area, KE still subjects them to prolonged power breakdowns.

Nagori said KE officials justify power breakdowns by citing 'maintenance upgrades' and 'tripping of lines', whereas in effect the power utility is deliberately depriving Lyari residents of electricity.

However, a KE spokesperson, who declined to be named, termed Lyari a very high-loss area. Talking to The Express Tribune, he said "electricity theft is the root of many problems, especially tripping and faults."

Bhit Islanders protest

Residents of Bhit Island on Tuesday also demonstrated against KE at Native Jetty Bridge due to power cuts in their area. The protest caused a traffic jam for several hours at the Native Jetty Bridge. A social media message by the power utility claimed that seven pole-mounted transformers [in Baba and Bhit islands] have dues of over Rs190 million, and supply was cut off after failed assurances of repayment by the residents.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2016.