Karachi in Darkness
As a severe heat wave grips the region, Karachi, the largest metropolis in Pakistan, is facing an unprecedented crisis of electricity and water shortage. Frequent and protracted power outages, sometimes lasting up to 12 hours per day, disrupt the water supply and other essential services for the city’s residents. People have taken to the streets to protest against the authorities and demand immediate relief because the situation has generated widespread anger and frustration.
Last week, Karachi reached a record high of 44 degrees Celsius, the highest in five years, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. The anguish of the people will be compounded during the next two days by the continuation of the heat wave. Due to dehydration and heatstroke, many individuals have been unwell, and hospitals are overburdened.
On Wednesday, residents of Lyari plan to hold a sit-in on Maripur Road in an act of protest. One Lyari resident claims that political representatives have likewise been unable to remedy the problems despite many reports to the appropriate agencies and groups.
The demonstrators would likely set up camp on Maripur Road on Wednesday if this is the case.
According to a local resident, “Lyari has become a problem area, people are forced to move out, and problems are being created in Sindhi majority areas in Lyari with regards to gas, electricity, and water.” Even during the Eid celebrations, he said, life for those without access to basic utilities like gas, power, and water is unbearable.
K-Electric, Karachi’s sole electricity provider, has been widely blamed for the city’s power outage due to poor performance and mismanagement. The firm is falling short of meeting the 10-percent increase in electricity use attributable to the hot weather.
Karachi’s water crisis is another consequence of decades of mismanagement and graft. The city’s water infrastructure is antiquated and ineffective, with huge leaks and frequent theft. The Indus River and Hub Dam provide the city with only half of the water it needs; the other half comes from wells and tankers. As a result of excessive pumping, many regions are experiencing severe water shortages.
Karachi residents have voiced their frustration and anger about the city’s current situation. They have blocked highways and set tires on fire in protest in several locations. Police and K-Electric employees have tried to disperse them with batons and tear gas, but they have clashed with the protesters. The demonstrators have asked the government to fix the lack of electricity and running water immediately and to supply them with other necessities.
On Tuesday afternoon, July 4, residents of Bufferzone District Central will demonstrate at the office of the MD Water Board in opposition to the lack of water in several sectors of Bufferzone, Sakhi Hassan, and North Karachi.
If the water issue is not resolved, the Bufferzone Action Committee will hold a protest dharna on Shahrah Faisal.