Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani criticized K-Electric (KE) on Tuesday for unannounced loadshedding during extreme heat conditions, suggesting that FIRs should be filed against the power utility if anyone dies from heatstroke in Karachi.
During a Sindh Assembly session, Ghani highlighted that KE operates outside the provincial government’s jurisdiction. He encouraged residents to file FIRs against KE in cases of death due to unannounced power outages and urged people to peacefully occupy KE offices and turn off their lights during outages to make them experience the discomfort firsthand.
Karachi is facing over 12-hour power outages amid a severe heatwave, with temperatures expected to stay between 36℃ to 38℃ for the next 10 days, according to Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz. Despite some areas having full bill recovery, they still endure long power cuts, which Ghani condemned as collective punishment.
Ghani also questioned why paying customers are penalized along with non-payers and criticized the filing of FIRs by KE for road blockages and tire burnings during protests. He called for discussing KE’s “inhuman behavior” in the Assembly.
The provincial assembly passed a censure motion against the electricity loadshedding, targeting KE, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco), and Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco).
