KARACHI, July 18: Power failures continued in many areas of the city on Thursday despite the fact that weather remained very pleasant throughout the day.

Calling from Federal B Area, Block 18, a resident told Dawn at around 8pm that there had been no electricity at her place since 4pm.

“What is one supposed to do if one finds that phones at 118 are engaged all the time? Nobody answers the phones at my complaint centre.”

A resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block 4A, told Dawn that his locality had faced a peculiar problem. ”I have been receiving only two phases out of three. Because of that we have not been able to receive water.”

Asif Khan, calling from Defence, Phase 6, said he was a retired government official and was annoyed at the fact that power shutdowns in the city were so frequent and prolonged. “In the past government servants used to work with a sense of responsibility. They used to work extra hours to ensure that the people remained content. Now it seems that the officials of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation do not want to do anything. Do they not feel bad that because of their neglect of duty, a large number of power consumers suffer?”

A resident of Gharibabad said she had called her complaint centre following a power breakdown earlier in the day. “The telephone attendant at the complaint centre was not aware why the power breakdown had occurred in my locality. He was also unable to tell me when electricity would be restored. What is the use of having such clueless telephone attendants at KESC complaint centres.”

A resident of PECHS, Block 2, said that frequent but brief power shutdowns had forced them to stay awake the previous night.

A resident calling from North Nazimabad near Hydery Market said his locality had not received smooth power supply for a long time. “A large number of shopkeepers pilfer power during the evening peak hours. That is why voltage goes down in the evening. Some people from my locality informed the KESC about this complaint but they took no action.”

Gulzar-i-Hijri: Frequent and unannounced load-shedding, particularly in late nigh, has made the lives of people living in Gulzar-i-Hijri, Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town, miserable, adds PPI.

The most affected areas are Metroville-III, Kaneez Fatima Society, Scouts Colony and Commissioner’s Society, which are adjacent to Abul Hasan Ispahani Road.

The student and the ailing are facing much hardships by this game of ‘hide and seek’ being played by the KESC.

Though the weather is partly cloudy these days, when power goes off, it becomes next to impossible for people to stay indoors.

Residents of the area have lodged scores of complaints with the KESC but nothing has followed.