KARACHI, June : The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sindh chapter General Secretary and former Senator, Waqar Mehdi, has strongly condemned the unannounced and prolonged load shedding of electricity during the extreme summer season, calling it an inhumane act. He criticized the MQM’s protest against K-Electric, describing it as an attempt to mislead the public and highlighting that K-Electric, which originated under MQM’s influence, has become a severe burden for the citizens of Karachi.
In his statement, Waqar Mehdi emphasized the severe impact of unannounced load shedding across Sindh, including Karachi, with power outages lasting 16 to 18 hours becoming a daily routine imposed by power distribution companies (Discos). He accused the K-Electric administration of breaking all records for unannounced load shedding and neglecting the needs of the people of Karachi, affecting over 20 million residents. He noted that the frequent power outages have also disrupted the city’s water supply, exacerbating the suffering of the populace. Moreover, K-Electric has unjustly categorized many bill-paying customers as defaulters, subjecting them to load shedding despite their timely payments.
Waqar Mehdi condemned the MQM’s current stance on load shedding, pointing out their past support for the privatization of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) during General Musharraf’s tenure. He asserted that K-Electric, a product of MQM’s support, has turned into a punishment for Karachi’s citizens. In contrast, the PPP consistently opposed the privatization of KESC, organizing protests and hunger strikes against its sale.
He called on the K-Electric administration to immediately cease unannounced load shedding and to target only those consumers who have not paid their bills, instead of punishing the entire city.
Waqar Mehdi reaffirmed the PPP’s commitment to standing up for the rights of Karachi’s citizens and ensuring a fair and reliable power supply.
