Karachi Residents Protest Over Electricity and Water Shortages
Residents of Karachi staged a sit-in protest on Hawkes Bay Road in front of Mauripur Main Bazar, blocking traffic to express their frustration over the lack of electricity and water. The protest lasted for 12 hours, starting at 9:50 am and ending at 10:20 pm, causing major traffic disruptions.
Locals reported that the electricity issue had persisted for the past seven days, severely impacting their daily lives. They also complained about receiving high electricity bills despite the ongoing power outages and water shortages. Despite filing several complaints, no action had been taken, prompting the protest.
A spokesperson for Karachi Electric stated that the problem was due to non-payment of Pakistani currency (PKR) 185 million. Traffic police officials reported that residents gathered in front of the K-Electric Sahulat Center Mauripur on Hawkes Bay Road, blocking both lanes and disrupting traffic flow. To manage the situation, police diverted traffic from Hawkes Bay Road to Suparco via Musharraf Cut, while vehicles from Gulbai Truck Stand were directed to form a line.
By 8 pm, the protest was still ongoing, resulting in the suspension of traffic on both lanes of the main highway and causing long vehicle lines. According to a traffic police spokesperson, the lengthy protest at the main Mauripur Bazaar on Hawkes Bay Road concluded at 10:20 pm, after which traffic flow was restored.
According to Dawn, Pakistan has been experiencing persistent power shortages and load shedding, particularly during peak summer months. This is due to a combination of factors, including outdated infrastructure, inefficiencies in power generation and distribution, and rising demand.
Doubts Revealed
Karachi -: Karachi is a large city in Pakistan, which is a country next to India. It’s like Mumbai in India, very busy and important.
Protest -: A protest is when people gather together to show they are unhappy about something. They want to make others, like the government, listen to their problems.
Electricity and Water Shortages -: This means there wasn’t enough electricity and water for people to use. Imagine if you couldn’t turn on the lights or get water from the tap for a whole week.
Hawkes Bay Road -: Hawkes Bay Road is a major road in Karachi. It’s like a big street where many cars and buses travel.
Traffic Disruptions -: Traffic disruptions mean that cars and buses couldn’t move easily because the road was blocked. It caused a lot of delays and confusion.
Karachi Electric -: Karachi Electric is the company that provides electricity to the people in Karachi. It’s like the electricity board in your city.
PKR 185 million -: PKR stands for Pakistani Rupees, which is the money used in Pakistan. 185 million is a very large amount of money, like 18.5 crore rupees in India.
Traffic was diverted -: This means that cars and buses were sent to different roads to avoid the blocked area. It’s like taking a different route to school if your usual road is closed.
