Pakistan: 12-hour outages, ‘kunda’ connections disrupting lives in Karachi

Pakistan: Extended power outages and electricity theft in nearby areas have worsened the hardships faced by residents of North Karachi.

Published on: Sep 7, 2024, 14:46:49 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Karachi residents are grappling with extended power outages amid rampant electricity theft, exacerbating daily hardships, particularly in the North Karachi region, local media reported. According to The Express Tribune, some households endure up to 12 hours of power cuts each day, disrupting lives in one of Pakistan’s largest cities.

File photo of residents sleeping on a building pavement, to escape heat and frequent power outage in their residence area in Karachi, Pakistan. (Akhtar Soomro / REUTERS)

Local residents such as Muhammad Tariq, Farooq Khan, and Babar detailed the grim schedule of power outages: electricity is cut between 7:00 am and 8:30 am, again from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm, and later from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Evenings bring little relief, with blackouts from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm, in addition to unscheduled outages that can strike at any time.

Also Read | Pakistani man arrested in Canada for plotting terror attack in New York on October 7 Hamas strike anniversary

This dire situation affects many of North Karachi’s labourers, who return home after long working hours only to face electricity cuts in scorching temperatures. The interruptions stretch into the night, with electricity often being restored after 1:30 am.

As a result, residents are forced to stay up until the early hours of the morning to complete essential tasks like refilling water supplies, leaving them exhausted for the next day. Children, too, are unable to complete their homework during outages.

Also Read | Who is Natasha Danish Ali? Pak woman behind fatal car crash caught ‘smiling’ on camera

Electricity theft in Karachi

Adding to their woes, illegal electricity connections are common in the area. Criminal elements have taken advantage of the power utility’s weaknesses, supplying electricity illegally, known as “kunda”, to over 250 homes. These operators reportedly charge hefty fees for the service, demanding an upfront payment of PKR 10,000 and monthly fees of PKR 3,000.

Karachi Electric (KE), the city's primary utility provider, has struggled with ageing infrastructure and mismanagement. Although steps have been made to mitigate the issues: financing new electrical facilities, implementing new regulations, etc., these steps more often than not take time before being fully put into place and completed.

With ANI inputs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.