Karachi experienced widespread gas and electricity outages on the eve of Ashura, causing immense hardship for residents preparing for the religious observance. Thousands of fasting individuals struggled to cook Sehri and Iftar meals as power cuts and gas shortages plagued the city.
Power Outages in Key Areas
Large parts of Karachi, including Saddar, Burns Road, Lyari, Clifton, Defence Housing Authority, Federal B. Area, North Karachi, Liaquatabad, Malir, Korangi, Shah Faisal Colony, Orangi Town, Keamari, and Baldia Town faced prolonged power cuts starting late Wednesday night. K-Electric had claimed that certain areas would be exempt from scheduled loadshedding until Muharram 11, but many residents still experienced disruptions.
The power utility stated that the power supply remained "uninterrupted" as per schedule, with only localized complaints of disruption due to faults that were subsequently fixed. However, residents reported otherwise, with many forced to rely on generators and alternative power sources for religious gatherings and daily needs.
Gas Shortages Worsen Difficulties
Gas supply, already limited in many neighborhoods, vanished completely in several areas, particularly during Iftar time. This left fasting individuals helpless and distressed. A large number of people thronged nearby eateries and snack shops to buy food for Iftar in almost every locality of the city.
“My family could not cook Sehri as there was no gas scheduled to be supplied at that time,” said a resident of Gulberg. “I had to rush out to bring parathas and tea from a nearby restaurant.”
A rickshaw driver in Baldia Town expressed his frustration: “My family had to break their fast with leftover meal and fruit as there was no gas before and after Iftar. We work all day in this heat, and now we cannot even prepare a proper meal for Iftar. Is this fair on Ashura?”
Water Shortages Compound Misery
Many residents also faced water shortages due to the absence of electricity needed to pump water to their taps. The lack of gas forced many to turn to expensive alternatives or skip cooking altogether. Water shortages persisted in several parts of the city, with residents condemning the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation for failing to ensure supply during the religious days. The water utility, however, claimed that routine water supply continued as per schedules.
Utility Companies Respond
Sui Southern Gas Company officials stated they had not announced any special load management plan for Ashura. They attributed the low pressure to increased consumption on Ashura and rampant use of gas suction pumps in some localities. Social media was flooded with complaints of gas and power outages across the city throughout the day.
Zafar Hasan, a resident of Malir City, questioned why utility services failed on a day when religious observances increase household demand. “Don’t they realise that people should be provided uninterrupted gas and electricity particularly during the observance of religious days when it is needed most?” he said.
Another disgruntled resident criticized the provincial government for failing to coordinate with utility providers ahead of Muharram to ensure uninterrupted supply. “Every year we see the same negligence,” he said, adding that promises were made but people suffered.
