KE blames power theft and unpaid bills for extended outages in several areas
KARACHI: Residents across Karachi are experiencing severe electricity load shedding, with outages in some areas lasting up to 14 hours daily, worsening the misery during intense summer heat.
Several neighborhoods, including Lyari, Korangi, Landhi, New Karachi, North Karachi, Surjani Town, Nazimabad, Malir, Quaidabad, and multiple blocks of FB Area, are facing prolonged power cuts. Locals say power disappears for 12 to 14 hours without prior notice.
Moreover, areas like Model Colony, Jehangir Road, PIB Colony, Machhar Colony, Railway Colony, Mauripur, and Hawks Bay are also dealing with long-duration outages, leaving residents frustrated and without relief.
However, a KE spokesperson claimed that 70% of Karachi’s power grid is exempt from load shedding and that electricity is being supplied as usual in those areas. He stated that the remaining 30% of regions are facing issues due to power theft and non-payment of electricity bills.
“Load shedding is carried out based on electricity theft and bill payment records. Areas with higher losses face longer outages,” the KE spokesperson explained, defending the power utility’s policy.
Meanwhile, citizens are calling for a more transparent and fair system, urging the authorities to take effective action against power theft without punishing paying consumers. As temperatures rise, the prolonged load shedding continues to disrupt daily life and business operations across the city.