Karachi Struggles with Prolonged Power Outages and Widespread Electricity Theft

Residents of Karachi are facing severe power outages, with some areas like North Karachi enduring up to 12 hours of electricity cuts daily, as per report. These constant blackouts are severely affecting daily life in one of Pakistan’s largest cities.

Locals such as Muhammad Tariq, Farooq Khan, and Babar shared their frustrations with the power outage schedule: electricity is typically off between 7:00 and 8:30 am, again from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm, then from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm, with additional blackouts in the evening from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm. Unplanned outages can also occur at any time. This challenging situation particularly impacts laborers, who come home after long workdays only to find their homes without power, often until the early hours of the morning.

A major problem contributing to the crisis is electricity theft. Illegal connections, known as “kunda,” are widespread in the area. Criminal groups charge fees for these illegal services, demanding around PKR 10,000 upfront and PKR 3,000 per month. Over 250 homes reportedly rely on these illegal connections.

Karachi Electric (KE), the city’s main power supplier, has been grappling with outdated infrastructure and mismanagement. Although efforts have been made to resolve the issues, including new regulations and investments in the electrical system, these improvements are slow to take effect.