Lyari residents protest prolonged, unannounced power outages

Residents of Lyari took to the streets on Sunday in protest against prolonged and unannounced power outages. The protest rally, organised at the call of the Lyari Bachao Tehreek (Save Lyari Movement), marched from Lyari to the Karachi Press Club.

It included a diverse group of residents, including women, children, youth, representatives of political and social organisations, and traders.

Among their demands, the protesters called for providing up to 300 units of electricity free of charge to consumers in Lyari and the immediate end to overbilling practices that have affected Lyari's populace over the past 15 years.

Faisal Edhi, head of the Edhi Foundation, also participated in the rally and spoke to the media, highlighting the severe hardships faced by Lyari residents due to extended power outages. He demanded that the government take immediate notice of the prolonged load shedding in Lyari.

According to the residents, various areas are experiencing power cuts lasting from 16 to 18 hours, leading to significant mental and physical distress among the community members.

They reported that elderly and sick individuals at homes are particularly suffering, and the nightly power outages have severely impacted the psychological well-being of the residents.

The residents condemned what they termed as the inhumane behavior of the electricity company, stating that such actions violate basic human rights.

Addressing the gathering outside the Karachi Press Club, social leaders of Lyari urged authorities to register FIRs against the chief executive officer (CEO) of K-Electric for the deaths during the recent heatwave caused by load shedding and to compensate the families of the victims.

Leaders of the Lyari Bachao Tehreek warned that if their demands were not met and there was no improvement in the power supply situation, they would halt bill payments and set electricity meters on fire.