• Commuters experience hours-long traffic jams on various thoroughfares
• DIG says situation may worsen further if water crisis is not resolved

KARACHI: Protests over water and power shortages broke out across several areas of the metropolis on Tuesday, leading to hours-long traffic jams on key roadways.

Moreover, authorities fear further unrest as city residents, who are already grappling with a severe water crisis for the past three days, would face more hardship because the water utility is still working to repair leaks in its supply lines and the water supply would not be restored until Friday.

On Tuesday, commuters endured immense hardship as protesters blocked both lanes of several roads, setting tyres on fire and forcing traffic authorities to divert traffic on alternative routes where slow movement of vehicles was reported.

According to a traffic police spokesperson, there were several protest demonstrations and sit-ins on main roads across the city.

Although there were no protests on Sharea Faisal, Rashid Minhas Road and University Road, the key road links remained clogged throughout the day and late evening due to the closure of several adjoining arteries.

In the South zone of Karachi police, Arambagh, Eidgah Chowk, Tibet Centre and Fresco Chowk were the most affected areas because of the protests against water and power shortage, said DIG-South Syed Asad Raza.

Traffic police in a statement said that both tracks of Jahangir Road near ‘Shah Najaf Cut’ remained closed for traffic for over six hours due to the protests. Traffic was diverted on alternative routes. The road was opened for traffic after 10pm.

The citizens also suffered due to traffic chaos on several adjoining roads such as Numaish Chowrangi towards Gurumandir, Bahadur Yar Jang Road and Business Recorder Road. Both tracks of Jamshed Road near PSO pump remained closed for traffic. The residents of Landhi-89 blocked both tracks of the main road while Murtaza Chowrangi also remained closed.

Both tracks of the main road in Garden were also closed for traffic because of the residents’ protest against water and power shortage.

Similar protests were also reported from the Korangi Industrial Area.

The DIG-South said they apprehended more protests and sit-ins and aggravation of law and order situation as there were reports that several areas of the metropolis may not get water supply till Friday owing to disruption of water line near Old Subzi Mandi.

He said these civic issues needed to be addressed by authorities concerned as police can engage the protestors in talks, help in diversion and regulating of traffic but they cannot provide water.

He said that realising the gravity of the problem, Sindh chief secretary was taking concerted efforts for overhauling the traffic situation by taking several initiatives like removal of encroachments etc. “It is a long haul but it should be religiously followed,” opined the DIG.

Newly appointed Traffic DIG Pir Mohammed Shah told Dawn that during the last two months, at least 190 protests had taken place in the city mainly over water and power issues among other problems.

The most affected areas were Teen Hatti, Gurumandir, Lyari, Gharibabad, Liaquatabad, Askari Park, Subzi Mandi, Quaidabad, Dawood Chowrangi, Link Road and Sohrab Goth.

He said that almost on a daily basis, two-three protests take place against water and power issues on an average. “This is a genuine and serious issue, which needs to be addressed urgently for smooth flow of traffic and preventing traffic chaos,” opined the traffic police chief.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2025