In a dramatic response to ongoing power outages, residents of Punjab Colony and the Gizri area in Karachi took to the streets, blocking key roads and causing severe traffic disruptions. Thousands of commuters found themselves stuck in traffic jams as protesters obstructed both lanes of the main road leading to Boat Basin and Sunset Boulevard. This led to significant delays on Tuesday morning, according to a report by Dawn, a Pakistan-based news outlet.
DIG-South Syed Asad Raza, addressing the situation, explained that the residents had gathered to protest the power outages and had blocked the roads peacefully. “We have been in discussions with the protestors, and representatives from Karachi Electricity (KE) have been called to resolve the issue,” he said, adding that no violent incidents were reported, so the police refrained from taking any action.
Growing Frustration Over Power Outages in Karachi
South-SSP Sajid Amir Sadozai also commented on the situation, stating that the road near Punjab Colony was blocked for several hours on Tuesday. The protests didn’t start on Tuesday, however. Similar roadblocks were reported on Monday night at the underpass in Gizri, leading towards Sunset Boulevard, where residents blocked the road two or three times throughout the night.
This isn’t the first instance of such protests. Over the past 24 hours, demonstrations have also taken place on Mauripur Road and at the main Shaheen Complex roundabout, where residents expressed their frustration over the extended power outages. The areas affected by these protests are reportedly adjacent to the Railway Colony, where the outstanding electricity bill amounts to more than PKR 150 million.
K-Electric’s Response: Addressing the Power Outage Crisis
In response to the protests, a spokesperson for K-Electric explained that these protests were fueled by those trying to protect illegal connections. “The aggressive anti-theft crackdown in the city is being resisted by the ‘kunda mafia’ who are blocking roads to avoid paying their dues,” the KE representative stated. The spokesperson added that KE’s recent operations in areas like Gizri and Punjab Colony were met with violent retaliation. Armed individuals had attempted to prevent the removal of illegal electricity connections and even harassed KE staff at gunpoint.
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Earlier in August, K-Electric had already announced that residents of Karachi should expect inflated electricity bills for August due to three-month adjustments. Customers will be charged up to PKR 3.22 per unit for the August adjustment. Additional adjustments for May and June are set to further increase the rates by PKR 2.53 and PKR 2.92 per unit, respectively. These rising charges have added to the frustrations of residents, leading to the series of protests witnessed across the city.