Pakistan’s deepening economic crisis has triggered a wave of discontent across the nation, with the largest city, Karachi, bearing the brunt of the hardships. Residents are grappling with prolonged power outages, sometimes exceeding 12 hours, and water shortages, forcing them to take to the streets to vent their anger and frustration. The Shehbaz Sharif-led government is facing mounting pressure as the public’s patience wears thin.
Earlier this week, Karachi’s streets witnessed mass protests sparked by the unscheduled power cuts and water supply disruptions lasting for hours. Demonstrators, resorting to road blockades and traffic disruptions, expressed their exasperation over the situation’s devastating impact on their lives.
The protests reached a fever pitch in areas like Isa Nagri, where residents, frustrated by the lack of response to their numerous complaints to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSB), blocked key roads, including the Lyari Expressway, causing significant traffic jams. One protester lamented, “These power cuts have severely impacted our water supply. We are forced to deal with these issues daily, and our complaints are falling on deaf ears.”
Adding fuel to the fire, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) recently approved an increase in electricity rates for Karachi, exacerbating the already strained situation. The price hike of Rs 0.40 per unit, part of the monthly fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for August 2024, comes despite K-Electric requesting a minor reduction due to fuel cost adjustments for September.
The frustration among Karachi residents has further escalated with the Battagram Trade Union announcing a complete shutter-down strike starting Tuesday, withholding electricity bill payments until the power supply schedule is normalized. The union, echoing the sentiments of the public, stated that they will continue their protests until their demands are met.
While the protests have been met with a heavy police presence, authorities have assured the protestors that their concerns will be addressed. Traffic police worked swiftly to clear the roads and restore normal traffic flow.
These protests are not an isolated incident, as Karachi residents have previously staged similar demonstrations, blocking roads to demand relief from extended power outages.
In a bid to address the city’s infrastructure needs, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) announced that it has collected Rs 228 million in municipal utility charges from K-Electric bills in a single month. Mayor Murtaza Wahab stated that the KMC aims to raise Rs 3 billion annually from these charges to fund city development projects and cover the pensions and dues of municipal employees. He assured full transparency in the process, stating that details of receipts and expenditures will be made available online.
With the economic crisis showing no signs of abating, the Shehbaz Sharif government faces a critical juncture. It must find a way to address the urgent needs of the people, particularly in Karachi, before public unrest escalates further. The protests serve as a stark reminder of the growing discontent and the need for immediate and effective solutions to alleviate the suffering of the people.
