Protest against water, power, gas shortage creates traffic nightmare

KARACHI:

A major traffic artery - Korangi Road ­remained blocked for hours creating traffic jam that left people stuck for hours due to protest of residents of Hazara Colony a neighbourd near Kala Pul against absence of electricity, gas and water.

Incensed residents blocked both the tracks of main Korangi Road creating miles-long queues of vehicles. Protesters also set fire to tires and shouted slogans against the authorities. While on the spot, they also surrounded the truck of K-Electric and burnt number of meters in the truck.

According to the spokesman of the traffic police, they diverted the traffic coming from Shaara Faisal to Awari Chowk from Christian Cemetery (Gora Qabrustan), while the traffic coming from Qayyum Abad was sent to Punjab Colony from Sunset Boulevard.

The protesters said that they raise hue and cry over being deprived of the basic civic amenities like water, electricity and gas but the rulers were busy toppling each other's governments.

The patience of the citizens stuck in the traffic jam also run out and they also severely criticised the rulers and said that protests have become a daily routine and common citizens facing massive traffic jam and needlessly waste not only time but also the most expensive fuel.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2023.