KARACHI: As the Met department alerted that the almost all parts of Sindh province, including Karachi, are likely to be gripped by heatwave from Wednesday, the K-Electric has increased duration of loadshedding.

It was stated by the Met department on Monday that the prevailing severe heatwave over central and upper parts of Sindh will grip the entire province from May 11 which will last till May 16.

“Daytime maximum temperature would rise to 46-48°C in Dadu, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Sha­heed Benazirabad, Nausha­hro Feroze, Khairpur, Shikarpur and Ghotki districts, and 43-45°C in Jam­shoro, Hyderabad, Badin, Thatta, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts during the period,” the Met department’s advisory said.

The maximum temperature in Karachi might also rise to 38-40°C on May 13 and 14, it added.

“Very hot and dry conditions may cause stress on crops, vegetables and orchards and increase energy demand. Farmers are advised to manage their crops. The public is advised to avoid open sun exposure as much as possible, especially during peak warm hours,” the advisory stated.

The maximum temperature recorded in Karachi was 35.2°C with 61 per cent relative humidity.

Loadshedding increased

While the city has been having sweltering weather for the past few days, the K-Electric has increased the duration of loadshedding in different part of the city.

The power utility said that that the duration of power cut down in parts of the city was extended mainly due to electricity shortfall that had reached 300MW to 400MW.

The localities falling under KE’s “high-loss areas” were the worst affected where power supply remained suspended up to 12 hours in intervals. The areas exempted from load management also experienced frequent power outages of two hours at least twice in 24 hours.

The situation aggravated after the power supply from the national grid to Karachi curtailed by 300MW.

Later, the situation improved for a couple of days after supply was increased to 1,000MW.

The KE said that it had to resort to two-hour loadshedding in parts of the city as its production capacity was being affected due to shortage of fuel.

Residents from different localities reported to Dawn that they had been intimated by the power utility that there would be two-hour loadshedding in their respective localities from Tuesday (today).

Published in Dawn,May 10th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.