The city witnessed widespread protests on Wednesday as residents, angered by prolonged blackouts and water shortages amid rising temperatures and a pandemic, took to the streets. Various neighborhoods, including Korangi, Landhi, Surjani Town, Liaquatabad, Lines Area, Keamari, PIB Colony, North Karachi and others, are reportedly being subjected to seven to 12 hours of load-shedding. According to citizens, the power outage is attributed to faults in cables, tripped feeders, maintenance and other technical issues by K-Electric (KE).

However, KE’s reasons failed to convince disgruntled citizens who staged demonstrations protesting long hours of loadshedding and water shortage on Wednesday, as mercury soared past 39 degrees in the metropolis.

Residents staged a sit-in near Ghareebabad Chowrangi, blocking the road, obstructing traffic and shouting slogans against KE and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). They accused KE of deliberately suspending the power supply to rile up citizens and use it as an excuse to get further fuel concessions from the government.

Demanding an end to unannounced loadshedding, they lamented that those in power did not realise their predicament. “They drink mineral water and have generators at home. How can they realise KE and KWSB have made our lives miserable?” asked a demonstrator.