Karachi Hit by Long Power Cuts as Residents Demand Relief
Karachi residents in several neighbourhoods have renewed calls for immediate relief from prolonged and allegedly unannounced power outages, as electricity disruptions continue to affect homes, businesses and daily routines across Pakistan’s largest city. The complaints surfaced on Sunday, with citizens reporting extended cuts in multiple parts of the metropolis.
According to local accounts cited in the report, power suspensions in some areas have stretched beyond 12 hours, creating serious hardship for families during a period when household electricity demand remains high. Residents said the outages have disrupted sleep, water pumping, cooking, small businesses and routine domestic work.
The affected localities include Orangi Town, Korangi, Lyari, Mauripur and Lines Area, while complaints were also reported from Quaidabad, Malir, Manghopir, Keamari, Surjani Town and New Karachi. People in Soldier Bazaar, Hawksbay Road and Gulshan-e-Maymar also said they were facing repeated electricity interruptions.
K-Electric, the city’s power utility, rejected claims that load shedding was exceeding 10 hours. The company maintained that outages were linked to non-payment of electricity bills, a position it has taken in similar disputes where power cuts are often described as recovery-based load management in high-loss areas.
Residents, however, argued that the disruption has become unbearable in several neighbourhoods. In Orangi Town and other affected places, citizens staged protests against the prolonged outages, while complaints from Baldia Town and nearby localities suggested that some households had faced electricity suspension for two to three days.
The issue is especially sensitive in Karachi because electricity supply directly affects water availability, small shops, medical stores, home-based workers and daily wage earners. Many residential buildings rely on electric pumps for water, while traders and shopkeepers often face losses when refrigerators, fans, lights and payment systems stop working during long outages.
Karachi has struggled for years with disputes over power supply, billing recovery, infrastructure stress and public frustration with utility services. During hot weather and holiday periods, electricity failures tend to become more visible because demand rises and households depend heavily on fans, cooling appliances and water pumping systems.
The latest complaints also highlight a wider governance challenge for Pakistan’s urban centres, where essential utilities are closely linked to public trust. When residents feel that outages are unpredictable or unfair, the issue quickly moves beyond electricity supply and becomes a broader question of service delivery, affordability and accountability.
Authorities and the power utility are expected to face continued pressure from affected citizens if outages persist. For now, residents are demanding a clear schedule, faster restoration of supply and an end to what they describe as unannounced load shedding across Karachi’s most affected neighbourhoods.