Karachi Residents Protest Against Power Cuts and Water Shortages

On Saturday, residents in Karachi, Pakistan, were enraged by prolonged load-shedding and stormed the K-Electric customer care center on Abul Hassan Isphani Road. The employees fled as protesters shouted slogans and pelted stones, shattering windows. The protest caused a massive traffic jam as both sides of the road were blocked.

On Friday, similar protests occurred in various city areas over the lack of electricity and water. In North Karachi, protesters blocked traffic and set tires on fire, demanding an end to load-shedding and cable faults. In Scheme 33, residents protested against the non-availability of water, blocking traffic and shouting slogans against the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

Earlier in May, residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa restored electricity by storming the Hazar Khawani grid station after prolonged load-shedding. PTI lawmaker Fazal Elahi led the protest, stating that they would restore electricity or cut power supply to other areas if their electricity was cut off. Pesco officials reported that the protesters forcibly switched on nine high-loss feeders.