KARACHI, May 4: A major power breakdown occurred in the city on Wednesday when two circuits of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation receiving electrical power from the Water and Power Development Authority broke down near Jamshoro.

A spokesman for the KESC made clear that the power utility was carrying out load shedding on a rotation basis because it was unable to meet the power demand of the city. "Karachi needs at least 1,975 megawatts in the evening peak hours. But since the KESC is receiving no electricity from Wapda, there is a shortage of 500 megawatts.

The KESC is receiving maximum electrical power from its generation systems, 250 megawatts from independent power producers, roughly 20 megawatts from the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant and about 10 megawatts from the Pakistan Steel," he explained.

The spokesman said that the good thing was that no KESC feeder had tripped because of the sudden breaking down of circuits near Jamshoro. Calling from Defence View, Phase II, Shaikh Mohammad Iqbal said that his locality had at least two spells of power breakdowns every day.

"Every day we have two power breakdowns: one in the morning, and one in the evening. It is very difficult for us to buy this KESC claim that it does not carry out unannounced loadshedding on a daily basis," he said.

A resident of Fatima Arcade in Federal B Area, Block 7, said that his locality had been without electricity since 4.30pm. He said that two of his children, who were already unwell, were most inconvenienced because of the power breakdown.

A resident of Bath Island, Mohammad Ali Bogra Road, said that his area, as well as adjoining localities, had been without electricity since 4pm. He said that his complaint centre told him that tripping of high-tension wires was responsible for the power breakdown.

Residents of Journalists Colony also complained that their locality had been without electricity since the afternoon. A resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block 13D-1, said that his locality had experienced a prolonged power breakdown on Wednesday. Another resident of the same locality also complained about the power breakdown.

Residents of Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Malir and New Karachi said their localities had also experienced a prolonged power breakdown on Wednesday.