Frequent power outages deepen the heatwave struggle as temperatures soar across eastern regions

KARACHI: A severe spell of load-shedding has gripped Karachi, leaving large parts of the city in prolonged darkness amid intense April heat typical of the season. As temperatures continue to rise, ongoing power outages are pushing residents to their limits, making daily life increasingly difficult without relief.

People across several neighbourhoods report electricity cuts lasting up to 16 hours or more. Even areas considered exempt from load-shedding are reportedly facing unexpected shutdowns, often attributed to maintenance work.

The worsening situation has sparked widespread frustration among citizens, who accuse the power utility of failing to manage both scheduled and unscheduled outages despite growing electricity demand during extreme weather conditions.

Reports from various localities suggest that the duration of load-shedding has increased by an additional four to six hours, further deepening the crisis.

In areas officially exempt from load-shedding, such as Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, North Karachi, Shadman Town, and Gulshan-e-Maymar, residents still report two to four hours of outages, frequently explained as maintenance-related shutdowns.