Residents in Karachi took to the streets to protest against long, unannounced power cuts lasting up to 16 hours daily. The protests led to severe traffic congestion in the city’s business district, affecting vehicular movement on various roads for over two hours. Frustrated with the situation, residents demanded an immediate restoration of power supply, citing the difficulties faced due to the extended outages.
The demonstrators, including residents of Railway Colony, gathered at intersections, blocking traffic and expressing their anger towards K-Electric for the unannounced load shedding. They highlighted the challenges they faced, such as disrupted sleep, lack of water supply, and overall discomfort caused by the prolonged power cuts. Despite regular bill payments, residents lamented living without electricity for extended periods, questioning the utility provider’s actions.
The protests not only caused traffic disruptions but also impacted office-goers, students, and patients, aggravating the already intense heat conditions. Police intervened in the protest, leading to its dispersal after negotiations with the demonstrators. However, the resulting traffic congestion took over two hours to clear, further adding to the inconvenience faced by the public.
Residents in other parts of Pakistan, including Punjab province, also experienced increased power outages, with urban areas facing up to eight hours of outages and rural areas enduring 12-16 hours without electricity. This situation, coupled with unannounced load shedding in various districts, has significantly affected the daily lives of people, prompting complaints and concerns about the lack of reliable power supply.
