THE residents of Karachi’s Lyari area are facing a serious electricity crisis, with power outages reportedly extending to around 18 hours a day; every day. This leaves the community with only a very limited and uncertain supply of electricity, making everyday life extremely difficult to navigate through. Such prolonged outages are not merely an inconvenience; they have become a serious public hard-ship. Power outages invariably affect the water supply system, making life even more miserable.

The residents struggle to carry out their daily household activities, students are unable to study properly, officegoers find it difficult to keep their schedule, and business-owners suffer in the absence of power supply. The situation is particularly distressing for the elderly patients and children.

It is deeply concerning that people are expected to continue paying their electricity bills while enduring the un-endurable. If there are genuine technical or operational reasons for the outages, the relevant authorities should explain them transparently, and provide a clear, reliable timetable for restoring normal electricity supply. Prolonged power cuts must not become an accepted part of everyday life for the people.

Lyari is an integral locality of Karachi, and its residents deserve the same basic facilities and consideration as citizens living in other parts of the city. The local people should not be left to suffer silently.

Name withheld on request
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2026