Pakistan’s energy crisis is affecting electricity supply in major cities including Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with prolonged power cuts disrupting daily life and business activity. In several areas of Karachi, residents report facing electricity outages of up to 12 hours or more every day.
The prolonged power cuts are affecting not only households but also water supplies, as several pumping stations cannot operate when electricity is unavailable. This has added to difficulties for residents already facing disruptions in essential services.
In Karachi, people have been protesting over electricity and water problems. On Saturday, large numbers of people took part in demonstrations, with roads remaining blocked for several hours. The protests affected traffic in several parts of the city, leaving large numbers of people stuck in congestion.
According to reports, a woman taking her sick mother to hospital was caught in the traffic jam, with an ambulance reportedly remaining stuck on the road for around two hours.
Residents in several parts of Karachi say a clear schedule for power cuts is not always provided. Sudden outages are affecting households, shops and small businesses, while the shutdown of electricity-dependent water pumping systems is also disrupting water supplies.
Prolonged electricity outages are also affecting businesses and shopkeepers in Karachi. Traders say repeated power cuts are affecting both production and sales. For small businesses, the cost of generators and alternative power arrangements is creating an additional financial burden.
Tensions have also emerged in some locations between members of the business community and electricity company employees over power supply.
The electricity company has also cited electricity theft and outstanding bills among the factors contributing to the crisis. The company has said that large amounts of electricity bills remain unpaid, increasing pressure on the power distribution system.
Conditions have also remained difficult in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Heavy rain late on Saturday night caused waterlogging in several areas and affected roads and underpasses.
Power supply disruptions in some areas during the bad weather further increased difficulties for residents. Technical faults in the electricity network and the need to stop supply for safety reasons can also occur during rainfall, adding pressure to normal life in cities already facing an energy crisis.
Pakistan’s power system is facing several challenges. Many of the country’s power plants depend on natural gas and regasified liquefied natural gas, or RLNG. Problems with fuel availability and supply can affect electricity generation capacity.
The power sector also faces longstanding challenges including financial problems, distribution losses, electricity theft and outstanding payments. When electricity generation falls below demand, distribution companies may resort to load management or scheduled power cuts.
