Power outages: Irate residents call for KESC’s nationalisation

The power utility blames the weather and the kunda system for the breakdown.

KARACHI: As the mercury soared to 38⁰ centigrade on Wednesday, people in different areas resorted to protests to vent their anger against the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) over an increase in unannounced load-shedding.

“KESC hasn’t been able to deliver on it promises and should be nationalised as soon as possible,” they demanded.

The entire district West plunged into darkness on Tuesday night after Baldia grid station developed fault. The electricity was restored in the morning.

Widespread protests were seen in Orangi Town, Baldia Town, SITE, Qasba Colony, New Karachi, Muslim Town and Gharibabad. The protestors raised slogans against the power utility, blocked the traffic and pelted passing vehicles with stones.



In Muslim Town, protesters captured two KESC vehicles and held the crew hostage. The police reportedly did not intervene as they found themselves outnumbered. Later, the police tried to negotiate with the protesters but they refused to budge till the restoration of power supply.

“The regional officers assured our delegation a couple of days ago that the problem would be solved soon but nothing has been done so far,” said a resident.

Talking to The Express Tribune, KESC spokesperson Adil Murtaza denied that their system does not have the capacity to bear the load. “Due to the ongoing heatwave, electricity consumption has increased and the feeders tripped because people in these areas use ‘kundas’ to power their air conditioners and other appliances.”

When asked if they would send their teams to negotiate with the protestors, he said that it was a standard procedure for KESC to send their regional officers to hold talks with the residents and sometimes they managed to convince the residents to pay their bills, albeit in installments.

Cottage industry closure

Over a third of cottage industries in Karachi have closed down and more will soon follow suit if the unabated load-shedding persists. This was stated by the All Pakistan Organisation of Small Traders and Cottage Industries Karachi president Mahmood Hamid on Wednesday.

“Load-shedding is the biggest conspiracy against the national economy. It has slowed down growth which has resulted in massive poverty, hunger and joblessness,” he said. “Cottage industries provide jobs to millions of people in Karachi and their closure due to load-shedding is a matter of grave concern.”

Hamid said that KESC has virtually become an electricity vendor, getting power from the national grid at very cheap rates and selling it to the consumers at a very high tariff. He said that electricity crisis in Karachi could be overcome if monopoly over generation and distribution is broken and new players are introduced, allowing a healthy competition. “No one should be allowed to fleece the consumers through monopolies and undue privileges. Government should protect the consumers from the profit-hungry corporate sector. “

He said that small traders may soon join the citizens in their protests and consultation in this regard was underway. He also hoped that the new government would resolve the issue and rid Pakistan of this menace as per their election manifesto.

Protest in rural Sindh

A policeman was injured in a scuffle with the protesters who blocked the National Highway near Kot Sabzai, Ubauro, against agonisingly long load-shedding. The cop was injured when the police tried to lift the road blockade.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2013.