The Sindh, local and federal governments are surprisingly unable to resolve the issues
KARACHI: Karachi is the most populous city of Pakistan. Here we see damaged infrastructure, poor water supply lines, broken drainage systems and hazardous electric supply systems. Electric wires and poles are so dangerous that they have been claiming lives of innocent people.
A disastrous situation arose during 10th & 11th August, when at least 13 people died by electrocution within two days as heavy rain rattled various parts of the city. Two people had been killed in roof collapses. Around a dozen sacrificial animals were also killed due to electrocution and flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains. In the first round of the monsoon, the death toll mounted to 20. This has, without doubt, developed into a serious problem for the people of Karachi. The Sindh, local and federal governments are surprisingly unable to resolve the issues. Reacting to the catastrophe during the first spell of rains, Nepra accused K-Electric of negligence and asked them to compensate the victim’s families.
Mismanagement problems in Karachi are so severe that all three government parties have failed to help the citizens. Karachities have also taken on social media to highlight the plight of the city during this disastrous time. Most of them lambasted the city administration and the government for their failure to take appropriate measures before the rains.
Besides other commitments, K-electric’s management was supposed to improve and develop the transmission system with underground wiring that would prevent any such mishaps from happening.
Due to the rain disaster and loss of precious lives, people are annoyed over K-electric’s performance. The federal government has also taken notice of the situation. The Sindh chief minister has also accused K-Electric of negligence resulting in the loss of precious lives. Also, people have reportedly moved court. KE must improve its system to protect precious human lives.
Manzoor Hussain Rajper
Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2019.
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