Load shedding has become the most pressing problem of Karachi and unrest is simmering in the city as the government has failed to compel the Karachi Electric Supply Company to run its power plants at full capacity and generate enough electricity for catering the needs of consumers.
Karachi knew nothing about hours-long and daily-based load shedding spells before privatisation of KESC. Strangely, the KESC was privatised with a promise that the private owners would bring capital to further improve the KESC system and facilitate Karachiites. However, this dream has turned sour and menacing load shedding has become an integral part of Karachi life, marring not only social, educational, healthcare sectors but also critically affecting trade and economy of this city, which is called financial and industrial lifeline of Pakistan.
Various social and political circles have been demanding for long to take decisive steps for ending the load shedding for good, but the concerned authorities are not taking any action. Electricity load shedding in Karachi, which is revenue engine of Pakistan, seems to be a deep conspiracy against the country as it is hampering production and aggravating joblessness, says Pasban, a citizen rights organisations based in Karachi.
Shakeel Ahmed, acting president of Pasban Karachi said the unending load shedding is causing unrest among the Karachiites and if power riots erupted in the city the government would be responsible for the situation, because it is not taking any action against the power utility to get the load shedding ended in the city.
He demanded of both the government and the private administration of KESC to stop befooling people and take solid steps to ensure proper supply of electricity to the city. He said frequent power outages and regular daily-based spells of load shedding have hit the Karachiites hard. He said that load shedding has affected every part of the city, causing immense miseries for citizens, especially children, housewives and elderly people. Shakeel regretted that the citizens were paying their electric city bills, while they were not getting power supply for many hours daily due to cruel load shedding. He said the load shedding in resulting in growing unemployment but the administration of KESC seems least concerned.