Wed, 01 January 2025 10:15:45pm
Pakistan: Karachi Residents Erupt in Protest Over Power Crisis and High Bills
Pakistan: Karachi Residents Erupt in Protest Over Power Crisis and High Bills
Outrage in Karachi: Residents Take to the Streets Over Power Crisis!
Karachi [Pakistan], June 29: Karachi's streets were ablaze with anger and burning tires as residents protested against K-Electric's erratic power supply and exorbitant bills. The sweltering heat and frequent power outages have pushed the city's residents to the brink, leading to massive demonstrations and road blockades.
Karachi, the bustling metropolis of Pakistan, is grappling with a severe electricity crisis. Between Friday and Monday night, areas including Shaheen Complex, Punjab Chowrangi, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Orangi Town, and Abu al-Hasan Isfahani Road suffered continuous load-shedding. The prolonged power outages have disrupted daily life, forcing residents into the streets in protest.
Visuals of residents setting tires on fire and blocking major roads have been circulating widely. The demonstrations have caused significant traffic jams, particularly around the Shaheen Complex and Punjab Chowrangi. Citizens are expressing their outrage over the unpredictable and extended load shedding that has made enduring the scorching summer heat unbearable.
Protests outside the main head office of K-Electric Karachi on load shedding in Karachi, underscore Pakistan's failure to provide essential services.
— Divya Bhalla (@DivyaBhalla_) June 28, 2024
From electricity to healthcare, citizens endure hardships due to systemic neglect and mismanagement.
Pakistan is a failed state! pic.twitter.com/LScOj8Q2Oa
Key Points:
- Prolonged Load-Shedding: Areas such as Shaheen Complex, Punjab Chowrangi, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Orangi Town, and Abu al-Hasan Isfahani Road experienced frequent and extended power cuts between Friday and Monday night.
- Public Outcry and Protests: Residents, frustrated by the severe electricity crisis, took to the streets, burning tires and blocking roads to voice their anger. Protests were especially intense near the Shaheen Complex and Punjab Chowrangi.
- High Electricity Bills Amid Outages: Despite the frequent power cuts, residents reported receiving hefty electricity bills. There were complaints of penalties imposed on entire communities for the non-payment of bills by a few individuals.
- Disparity in Electricity Access: Protesters criticized the disparity between officials enjoying free electricity and residents being punished for delayed payments.
- Demand for Immediate Action: The community warned of further demonstrations if the Sindh government and governor do not promptly address the ongoing power crisis. Residents demanded an immediate end to the irregular power cuts.
The crisis reached a boiling point when residents of the Railway Colony and nearby areas, fed up with the constant outages, stormed K-Electric's customer care center on Abul Hassan Isphani Road. The situation turned violent as protesters pelted stones, shattering windows and forcing employees to flee.
These are streets of Lyari KARACHI people are protesting against the SINDH government FOR water and electricity shortage!
— Haseeb Ahmad (@haseebmajoka1) June 26, 2024
It's traditional that the media isn't showing reality nor any media house covering this news. pic.twitter.com/Ze2NFPeS3Y
The protests have highlighted the severe impact of the power crisis on Karachi's residents. The combination of scorching heat and lack of electricity has made living conditions unbearable, especially in areas like Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, and Orangi Town. The community's demands for reliable power supply and fair billing practices reflect the growing frustration with K-Electric's services.
As Karachi continues to swelter under the summer sun, the pressure on local authorities and K-Electric to resolve the power crisis is mounting. The residents have made it clear: they will not stand for another summer of darkness and unbearable heat.
