Power crisis worsens across city

Power crisis in the metropolis has worsened across the city. Residents of several areas have reported power outages lasting up to 18 hours a day.

The prolonged outages have disrupted daily life, affected businesses and caused water shortages in various neighbourhoods.

A K-Electric spokesperson said, load management was being carried out because of the disruption in RLNG imports.

Residents said outages had increased significantly, even in areas that normally remained exempt from scheduled load-shedding. Such neighbourhoods were now experiencing power cuts lasting between 1.5 and three hours, while areas already subject to scheduled outages were facing an additional two to five hours of load-shedding.

Areas reportedly experiencing outages of 10 to 18 hours include Korangi, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Federal B Area, New Karachi, Old City Area, Lyari, Baldia Town, Shah Latif Town and Bhains Colony. Consumers, connected to Abbas Bawazir PMT in Shah Faisal Colony, are most affected as besides load-shedding for long hours during the day, they experience irritating outage from 10.30pm to 2am.

Residents of areas generally exempt from scheduled load-shedding, including Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Clifton, Defence and Nazimabad, have also reported outages lasting between 1.5 and five hours.

The prolonged power cuts have disrupted household routines, water supplies, students' studies and business activities. Residents said the outages had created particular difficulties for working people, shopkeepers and small business owners.

Sources said K-Electric relied on cheaper electricity sources, while reduced gas availability had necessitated additional load management. However, the utility did not disclose the volume of electricity being generated or the extent of the supply shortfall.

Concerned about when normal power supply would resume, residents urged the authorities and K-Electric management to reduce the duration of outages.