KARACHI, May 10: Friday turned out to be one of the worst day for Karachiites as many city areas remained without electricity.
People calling from C.P. Berar Society, Sharfabad, Bahdurabad, North Nazimabad, New Karachi, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Saddar, Maqbool Cooperative Housing Society, Buffer Zone, North Karachi, Gulistan-i-Jauher, Agra Taj and Bhaghdadi told Dawn that they had experienced prolonged power breakdowns starting from Thursday night.
Begum Talat Muneer Fateh, secretary-general of the women’s wing of the Pakistan Muslim League (Pagara Group), said her locality (Maqbool Cooperative Housing Society) had faced prolonged power shutdowns on Thursday night and Friday morning.
“Because the children did not have any sleep last night, they were unable to wake up in the morning and go to school.”
A resident of Buffer Zone, 15-A-3, said he had a four- hour-long power shutdown on Thursday night. “Earlier on Thursday, we had at least two long spells of power cuts. Last year, the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation used to announce a loadshedding schedule which made our lives very simple. “I wish the KESC would do the same thing this year.”
Calling from Saddar, a resident said that on Thursday his locality had three power shutdowns. “My in-laws are based in Gulshan-i-Iqbal that is why I know that they also had a power breakdown.”
A resident calling from Gulistan-i-Jauher, Block 16, told Dawn that he had faced a power shutdown at 10.15am which had been restored at 3.30pm.
A resident of Gulzar-i-Hijri told Dawn that the previous night the entire area had been without electricity for more than seven hours.
Residents of Federal B Area, Blocks 17, 18 and 19, told Dawn that the previous night their areas had been without power for more than five hours.
A resident of North Nazimabad, Block I, said her locality had been without electricity for more than three hours.
Another resident of North Nazimabad, Block I, said her locality had been without power since 8.30am. “Even when power supply is restored only for a little awhile, voltage keeps on fluctuating,” she added.
A resident of PECHS, Block 2, informed Dawn that his locality faced power shutdowns at least two times a day.
Another resident of PECHS, Block 6, said his area had been without electricity for more than four hours if all power shutdowns were put together. “From 12 noon to 2.30pm, we remained without electricity. Then for one hour, we had power supply, only to be interrupted for an hour. At 6 O’clock we had a power shutdown for half an hour.,” he gave Dawn a complete break-up of power closures in his area.
Another resident of North Nazimabad, Block L, told Dawn that his locality — in addition to Blocks G and N — had remained without power on Tuesday night on three occasions. First from 1-3am, second from 6-8.30am and third at 12 noon.
A resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block 14, said he faced fluctuations of power supply which caused great damage to home appliances.
A resident calling from Gulistan-i-Jauher, Block 18, said his area had faced a power closure from 10am to 3pm. “When I reported the power shutdown to my regional complaint centre, I was told to have patience because all KESC vehicles are busy,” he said.
A resident of Federal B Area, Block 12, told Dawn his locality had been without electricity the previous night.
KARACHI, May 10: Friday turned out to be one of the worst day for Karachiites as many city areas remained without electricity.
