Karachi Loadshedding Protest erupted late Friday night as dozens of frustrated residents took to the National Highway near Quaidabad, blocking traffic for hours. Their message was clear and urgent: end the relentless power outages that have gripped the city during the peak of summer. The blockade caused a massive traffic jam stretching all the way to Malir Halt, trapping over 5,000 vehicles — including trucks loaded with livestock ahead of Eid ul Adha.
The Karachi Loadshedding Protest reflects a city pushed to its limits. Eyewitnesses and rescue teams reported that the sit-in stretched into Saturday, as protestors demanded an end to unannounced and prolonged power cuts. The hours-long blackouts—stretching up to 14 hours a day—have brought everyday life to a standstill in many neighborhoods. Families, especially women and young children, are left to cope in sweltering heat, often with no running water to ease the misery.
One protester, drenched in sweat and frustration, summed it up painfully: “It’s like living in an oven. We have no idea when the power will come back. And no one’s listening to us.” Another added, “Government offices and K-Electric are nearby, but we get no response. What else can we do but protest?”
The impact rippled beyond the protest site. Vehicles carrying sacrificial animals for Eid were caught in the massive snarl, and commuters remained stranded on the National Highway and surrounding roads for hours. Yet the demonstrators remain determined. They vowed to continue their stand until K-Electric guarantees consistent power supply and takes real steps to end the crisis.
K-Electric maintains that 70% of its network is exempt from loadshedding, pointing fingers at non-payment and electricity theft in affected areas. According to a KE spokesperson, only feeders with high losses face outages, and those who pay their bills fully receive uninterrupted service. The company denied claims of unannounced power cuts, stating that only 30% of the city experiences scheduled outages.
Areas hit hardest by Karachi Loadshedding Protest include Malir, Landhi, Korangi, Orangi Town, New Karachi, North Karachi, Model Colony, Surjani, Lyari, and parts of the old city like Lines Area and Kharadar. Commercial hubs such as Jama Cloth Market and Liaquatabad also reported long hours without power.
K-Electric officials revealed that daily power cuts last up to 10 hours on 496 feeders, with another 155 feeders seeing slightly shorter interruptions. Despite these official claims of managed and justified power distribution, many Karachi residents say even regular billpayers endure long outages, deepening their suffering under the scorching heat.
The Karachi Loadshedding Protest is more than a blockage; it’s a cry for relief from a city overwhelmed by darkness and heat, demanding that its voice be heard loud and clear.
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