In most urban conversations, load-shedding is treated as a logistical nuisance. But rarely do we speak about the emotional and psychological strain it places on millions of Pakistanis, especially in cities like Karachi where the uncertainty of electricity is a daily norm.
Frequent and unpredictable power outages disrupt routines, affect sleep, delay work, and undermine the basic comfort of home life. Over time, these disruptions contribute to chronic irritability, anxiety and mental fatigue. For students, professionals and homemakers alike, the lack of control over such a basic utility builds a quiet but constant pressure.
From a psychological standpoint, environmental stressors like load-shedding can lead to what experts call “learned helplessness” — a condition where people stop trying to improve their situation because nothing seems to work. This isn’t just about inconvenience; it’s about emotional exhaustion in the face of systemic failure.
Urban mental health is already a neglected issue. Ignoring how infrastructural shortcomings feed into psychological stress only adds to the silence. It is time we began viewing electricity not just as a resource, but as a psychological lifeline — especially in a country where resilience is already stretched thin.
Zoha Zia
Karachi
