From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: With the increase in temperature in Karachi, the duration of power cuts in the metropolis has reached upto 15 hours as electricity shortfall reached 800MW.
According to details, the loadshedding crisis in Karachi has become more serious and the duration of power outages has reached to 15 hours in parts of the city after the electricity shortfall reaches 800MW.
The periodic power cuts are causing outrage among the citizens and in several areas protest demonstrations are also being reported.
Areas including, North Karachi, Sir Syed Town, Shahnawaz Bhutto Colony, Yousuf Goth, Gadap, Kathor, Landhi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Hijrat Colony, Liaqatabad, Ranchhor Line, PIB Colony, Jamshed Road, Orangi Town, Shah Faisal Colony, Baldia and Ittehad Town and other areas are facing power cuts.
The KE spokesperson in the statement has said the power shortfall of K Electric has reached 800 MW and the power shortage is being met by increasing the loadshedding duration.
The spokesperson claimed that no unannounced power cuts are taking place in Karachi. The spokesman said that 2,700 MW of electricity was supplied to Karachi during the last 24 hours, including 1,000 MW from the national grid.
Meanwhile, the citizens have complained loadshedding is being carried out, even in the areas with 100% recovery. The continued loadshedding has badly disrupted routine and business life in the city.
Tuesday, protest against loadshedding in Karachi’s Mauripur area — which continued for more than a day — ended on Tuesday evening after area residents decided to disperse and return home after day-long face-off with LEAs.
According to Deputy Commissioner South Abdul Sattar, the protesters decided to call the demonstrations off after successfully negotiating with authorities.
He added that previously, some people had refused to comply and continued protesting despite being assured that their grievances would be addressed. As a result, the protests continued for more than 24 hours.
Sattar also said that traffic in the area has been restored, which had been blocked because of the demonstration. Traffic from the ICI bridge to the Lyari Expressway, which had been suspended, has also been restored. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah had instructed the provincial energy minister Imtiaz Sheikh to ensure that the electricity loadshedding situation in the metropolis is controlled in a timely fashion.
