Power, water crisis sparks protests

KARACHI:

Protests erupted in various city areas over the non-availability of electricity and water on Thursday. Protesters staged a sit-in at North Karachi Power House Chowrangi and Gulzar-e-Hijri Scheme 33, blocking traffic and setting tires on fire. They also chanted slogans against the concerned authorities.

According to details, a large number of residents of the area near North Karachi staged a protest against the load shedding of electricity, which caused traffic to come to a standstill on both tracks of Nagan Chowrangi and Surjani Town. The protesters demanded an end to load shedding and cable faults, and chanted slogans against the K Electric.

The protesters said that despite paying electricity bills and taxes, the non-availability of electricity was unbearable. They added that even areas exempt from load shedding were facing power outages.

The protesters lamented that the federal and provincial governments are not concerned about the difficulties faced by the public, who are struggling to survive without electricity and water in the scorching heat and humidity. They said that political leaders' meetings with NEPRA officials in Islamabad and Karachi have proven futile, and it seems that NEPRA officials have turned a blind eye to the issue. However, they are quick to raise electricity prices.

On the other side, K Electric officials claim that there is no unannounced load shedding in any area of the city, and the schedule for announced load shedding is available on their website.

Meanwhile, a large number of residents of Scheme 33, PCSIR Society, Sachal area, came out of their homes to protest against the non-availability of water, blocking traffic and chanting slogans against the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, demanding immediate water supply. Protesters also set tires and other objects on fire, causing traffic jams and long queues of vehicles.

The protesters said that water supply has been suspended in their area for the past three months, despite numerous complaints to the Water Board, which has fallen on deaf ears, forcing them to take to the streets. They alleged that the water tanker mafia is selling water to them at exorbitant rates.