KARACHI: K-Electric continues its arbitrary load shedding across Karachi, openly defying the Sindh government’s directives to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the sacred days of 9th and 10th Muharram.
Despite official instructions to suspend power outages during Ashura, several parts of the city experienced scheduled load shedding. According to reports, multiple areas have faced repeated three-hour power outages during the night, including Garden, Ramswami, Ranchor Line, and the Old City Area — some of which were previously declared exempt from load shedding.
The worst-hit zones include District Central and District East. Areas affected by prolonged outages include North Karachi, Shadman Town, Sir Syed Town, Khawaja Ajmer Nagri, Liaquatabad, Gulbahar, Kamosh Colony, Pahar Ganj, and Hasrat Mohani Colony.
Power disruptions were also reported in FB Area, Musa Colony, Gharibabad, Karimabad, Azizabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, PECHS Society, Old Sabzi Mandi, Dhoraji Colony, and KDA Scheme One Officers Housing Society.
Other severely affected localities include Scott Colony, Railway City Cantt Colony, Azam Basti, Mahmoodabad, Kashmir Colony, Akhtar Colony,Junejo Town, Abbas Town, Rizvia Society, Ancholi, Landhi, Korangi, Orangi, Gulshan-e-Zahoor, Baldia’s Ittehad Town, Manghopir, Qasba Colony, Pak Colony, and Keamari.
Load shedding has also continued in Musharraf Colony, Nusrat Bhutto Colony, Metroville SITE, Gulshan-e-Hadid, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Ahsanabad, Quetta Town, Safoora Goth, and Bandhani Colony.
The continuous power outages on such significant religious days have sparked frustration and anger among residents, with many demanding accountability from K-Electric for ignoring government directives and causing widespread inconvenience during Muharram.
It is noteworthy that despite clear directives from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), K-Electric has not taken any effective steps to end load shedding in Karachi.
In response to growing public complaints over prolonged power outages — some lasting up to 12 hours during the scorching heat in summers of 2025 — NEPRA instructed K-Electric to immediately adopt measures to improve operational performance and reduce power disruptions.
The regulatory authority emphasized that continuous load shedding is severely affecting daily life and business operations in Karachi, the country’s largest city and economic hub. NEPRA also directed KE to improve recovery standards, minimise system losses, and ensure consistent electricity supply.
Penalties have been imposed on KE and other companies for what NEPRA termed as unjustified and baseless load shedding. Moreover, KE was criticised for generating costly electricity from its own sources while increasingly relying on the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) system, instead of providing affordable power to consumers.
Despite these serious concerns and regulatory pressure, no meaningful steps have been taken by K-Electric to address the ongoing crisis.
