Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his meeting at the CM House on Thursday with Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastagir took up the issue of prolonged loadshedding in the rural areas of the province.
The chief minister said that there were two serious issues in the rural areas of the province. “On the one hand there is a power outage for over 12 hours while on the other inflated bills are issued to the people,” he said and urged the federal minister to issue necessary directives to the Hesco and Sepco to resolve the issues.
The federal minister assured the chief minister that both the issues would be resolved on priority basis. In the first phase the duration of loadshedding would be reduced and in the second it would be eliminated but it would take a little while.
Khurram Dastagir also said that he would talk to the Hesco and Sepco authorities to make proper meter reading and issue the power bills accordingly.
The federal minister told the chief minister that he was holding a meeting with the K-electric administration and would issue them necessary directives to improve their services.
Protests erupt against power outages
Protests erupted in various parts of the city against power outages and water shortage on Thursday
Angry citizens exasperated with scorching heat came out on streets burnt tyres and blocked traffic.
K Electric spokesperson said power management was under way only in areas showing power pilferage. In areas having less than 20 per cent line losses, there was no loadshedding, the spokesperson said.
However, citizens incensed with power and water shortage held protests to vent their anger.
Residents of Maripur Road staged a protest from ICI Chowk to Mirza Adam Khan Road and closed both the roads for traffic. The protests caused the worst traffic jams and long queues of vehicles, causing severe hardship and difficult ies to ordinary citizens.
Police officers and officials of traffic police reached the spot and diverted traffic towards alternative routes.
Similarly, residents of Bhimpura in the Old City Area protested against power utility for overcharging and electricity outages on Nishtar Road near Risala Police Station.
However, police convinced the protestors to end the sit-in, after which the flow of traffic was restored.
Long loadshedding continues in North Karachi, Shadman Town, Sir Syed Town, Nusrat Bhutto Colony, Scheme 33. Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Ahsanabad, Orangi Town, Old City Area Landhi, Kemari, Manohra, Model Colony, Moinabad, Airport areas.
On the other hand, in view of the heatwave in Karachi, steps are being taken by K-Electric to provide maximum relief to the consumers.
As per the company spokesperson, due to severe weather, any kind of maintenance shutdown in the city has been suspended immediately.
Sources said that K Electric is facing shortage of 400 to 500 MW power.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2022.
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