A 16-hour-long Karachi loadshedding protest came to an end Saturday morning after successful negotiations between protesters and law enforcement. The sit-in, triggered by prolonged and unannounced power cuts, had blocked the National Highway near Quaidabad, leaving traffic paralyzed and commuters stranded in intense summer heat.
Protest Sparks Chaos in Peak Heat
The protest began late Friday night, as angry residents took to the streets to demand electricity. With temperatures soaring above 39°C, the outage had severely disrupted daily routines. The protest caused a major traffic jam stretching from Quaidabad to Malir Halt. Vehicles, including those carrying sacrificial animals, were trapped for hours.
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Government Response and Relief Measures
Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar quickly intervened. He contacted SSP Malir and Deputy Commissioner Malir, directing them to coordinate with K-Electric (KE) for immediate restoration of power. He also ordered cold water and drinks to be provided to protesters and ensured access to hospitals for those affected by the heat.
K-Electric’s Stand and Ground Realities
K-Electric responded by blaming the outages on power theft and unpaid bills. The company stated that 70% of its network is exempt from loadshedding, while only high-loss areas face power cuts. It maintained that regions with full bill recovery continue to receive uninterrupted electricity.
Despite these claims, reports of widespread outages persist. Residents of Malir, Korangi, Landhi, Orangi Town, New Karachi, Model Colony, Lyari, and other parts of the city continue to suffer up to 10 hours of loadshedding. Even commercial hubs like Jama Cloth Market and Liaquatabad have faced long disruptions.
KE confirmed that 496 feeders are currently affected by extended outages, with another 155 feeders facing shorter power cuts. Residents, however, say the suffering is far from over.
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