KARACHI, April 12: Amid frequent and prolonged power shutdowns, the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation announced on Thursday that it will carry out loadshedding from Friday.

A KESC spokesman said as Wapda had stopped the supply of 230 megawatts to the KESC, it would be resorting to loadshedding to meet the peak power demand of the city, which is about 17,500 megawatts. “The loadshedding will continue as long as Wapda keeps the power supply off.”

He said the KESC would carry out loadshedding for at least one-and-a-half hour daily.

Meanwhile, people calling from different areas of the city said their localities faced intermittent power shutdowns.

A resident of North Nazimabad, Block N, told Dawn that there had been voltage fluctuations in his locality and in Block L and abrupt shutdowns have damaged many appliances and computer accessories.

A resident of Clifton said she had been unwell for quite some time and needed a certain medical equipment which could not be operated without electricity. “My therapy has to be done on time and I cannot rely on power supply from the KESC. As a result, I had to buy a generator though I am spending a lot of money on my medication, “ she observed.

A resident of Buffer Zone, Sector 15-A, said there had been no electricity in his area since Maghreb.

“For a little while, the power supply was restored, but there was another power failure,” he said.

A school-going child from Orangi told Dawn that during examination days the KESC should refrain from resorting to shutdowns which makes it extremely difficult for students to study with a peace of mind.

Azeem Malik, calling from Defence, Phase IV, said his locality had been without power for the past two hours.

A resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block 11, complained about power failures every morning.

Mohammed Muneer Haqqani, calling from PECHS, Block 6, told Dawn that he was an overseas Pakistani and was annoyed at the fact that power shutdowns in the city were so frequent and prolonged. “With such a fragile transmission and distribution system, can we attract investment to the country?” he wondered.

Calling from C.P. Berar Society, Block 7/8, Abdul Salam Shaikh told Dawn that his locality had been without electricity since 6pm.

Calling from Federal B Area, Block 10, Seema Jalil told Dawn that when she tried to contact high KESC officials, their personal assistants did not connect her with them. “I wanted to contact high KESC staff because our complaint centres do not give a satisfactory answer,” she explained.

A resident of Old Golimar told Dawn his locality had been without power for more than four hours.