Power cuts and protests in Karachi over high electricity bills

Karachi residents marched to the streets and K-Electric offices on Thursday to voice their displeasure about frequent power disruptions and skyrocketing rates. There have been protests across the country in recent weeks in response to the fuel price adjustment (FPA) and taxes on power bills.

It was reported today that locals in the Korangi neighborhood of Karachi broke into the neighborhood KE office and ransacked it. Witnesses say that a large number of protesters, including women and children, blocked the major road in the Korangi Industrial Area and yelled slogans against the firm outside the KE office near Darul Uloom.

According to a statement released by the Korangi police department, demonstrators gathered outside the KE building to voice their displeasure with their high utility bills.

To get their point through, demonstrators lit tires on fire near Singer Chowrangi, stopping train service on both tracks. The power company’s private guards were also overwhelmed and the office was stormed by the protesters.

The Landhi district superintendent of police and the Awami Colony station house officer, along with their contingents, arrived at the scene and dispersed the gathering to prevent a riot from breaking out, the spokesperson said.

Residents of the city’s Shah Latif Town staged a separate protest against the electricity company by blocking the National Highway near Jogi Mor.

According to Dawn.com, Senior Superintendent of Police in Malir Irfan Bahadur said the locals were upset about a recent increase in fuel adjustment rates on their utility bills.

The officer reported that the protesters handed over a memorandum to the power company representatives and then dispersed without incident, however, he noted that traffic remained stopped on the motorway for some time. Nazimabad locals demonstrated similarly in front of the KE office.