• Karachi sizzles at 40.9°C; feel-like temperature hits 46°C
• Met Office says intense heat may persist this week
• City water crisis sparks MQM-P criticism of Sindh govt

KARACHI: The people of Karachi experienced intense heat on Sunday as temperatures soared to 40.9 degrees Celsius with feel-like temperature touching 46 degrees, worsening the miseries of residents already facing water shortages due to ruptured pipelines and excessive loadshedding by K-Electric in the name of minimising so-called losses.

The day remained hot and humid offering little relief to citizens. A Met official said the trend is likely to stay this week.

At around 12 noon, the feel-like temperature was recorded at 46 degrees Celsius due to higher humidity, he added.

The official said the prevailing weather pattern indicates a continuation of hot conditions not only in Karachi but also across other parts of Sindh.

The lack of water supply worsened people’s problems as the shortage that began last week remained unresolved in many areas.

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) claimed that the repair work on a pre-stressed reinforced cement concrete (PRCC) pipeline had been successfully completed and water supply to affected areas largely restored.

According to a KWSC statement, the disruption caused by a sudden power breakdown that impacted key installations at the Dhabeji pumping station had temporarily affected supply across several parts of the city.

It said that following the restoration of the line, water supply had resumed in Korangi, Malir, Chanesar, Jinnah, Saddar, Clifton and DHA areas.

“The city is currently receiving around 610 million gallons per day (MGD) against its daily requirement of 650 MGD, leaving a shortfall of approximately 40 MGD.

“The situation has improved significantly, and supply is being restored gradually,” the statement added.

However, despite these assurances, residents in many parts of Karachi continue to face acute water shortages amid intense heat.

Many areas, including Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony, North Karachi, New Karachi, Baldia Town, Gulistan-i-Jauhar and Orangi Town, are still reportedly struggling to receive regular water supply, forcing many households to rely on private water tankers at exorbitant high rates.

Loadshedding

With inadequate water supply, Karachiites also continue to suffer excessive loadshedding in several areas with no relief from the power utility despite extreme weather conditions.

Residents of Mauripur took to the streets in protest against prolonged loadshedding and water shortages in their area.

The people blocked both tracks of the Hawkesbay Road near Bilal Cut and lit fires.

The protest continued for about an hour and people dispersed peacefully after police persuaded them to end their demo.

Residents of Scheme-33, Malir, North Karachi, Lyari, parts of Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Nazimabad, old city areas also complained of prolonged loadshedding.

KE spokesperson Imran Rana had said on Saturday that the utility would suspend maintenance shutdowns and “economic loadshed” in view of heat conditions.

On Sunday, he told Dawn that preventive maintenance shutdowns were suspended when a heatwave advisory was issued.

“Also, when temperature reaches 45 [degrees Celsius], the economic loadshed in areas with losses is also suspended usually from 12pm till late afternoon.”

It may be noted that recently Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had expressed concern over prolonged power outages particularly in underprivileged areas of Karachi and asked the KE to find a practical solution to reduce loadshedding, particularly in poorer neighbourhoods.

Muttahida slams govt over water crisis

Amid a worsening water shortage in the city, lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have strongly condemned the Sindh government’s handling of the crisis.

In a joint statement, MQM-P members of the Sindh Assembly described the ongoing situation as a result of “incompetence, negligence and mismanagement,” adding that several days passed before repair work was completed. They also rejected official claims of normalcy, alleging that the ground realities painted a very different picture, with citizens continuing to suffer due to limited or no access to water.

The lawmakers termed the reported 90 million gallons per day (MGD) shortfall a “serious administrative failure” that has affected a large portion of the city.

The MQM-P lawmakers called on Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and relevant officials to take immediate action to ensure full restoration of supply and hold those responsible accountable.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2026