Waqar Mehdi, General Secretary of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sindh chapter and former Senator, has strongly denounced K-Electric for its prolonged and unannounced load shedding during the scorching summer season, labeling it as an inhumane action. Mehdi criticized the MQM’s protest against K-Electric, accusing them of misleading the public and highlighting K-Electric’s transformation from a company under MQM’s influence into a severe burden for Karachi’s residents.
In a statement, Mehdi highlighted the severe impact of prolonged power outages across Sindh, particularly in Karachi, where residents endure daily power cuts lasting 16 to 18 hours, enforced by power distribution companies (Discos). He accused K-Electric of setting records for unannounced load shedding and neglecting the needs of Karachi’s over 20 million inhabitants. Mehdi pointed out that these outages have also disrupted the city’s water supply, compounding the hardship faced by the population. Furthermore, he criticized K-Electric for erroneously categorizing many bill-paying customers as defaulters, subjecting them to unnecessary load shedding despite their timely payments.
Mehdi criticized MQM’s current stance on load shedding, highlighting their past support for the privatization of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) during General Musharraf’s era. He asserted that K-Electric, born out of MQM’s backing, has become a punishment for Karachi’s citizens. In contrast, Mehdi underscored PPP’s consistent opposition to KESC’s privatization, recalling their protests and hunger strikes against its sale. He called upon K-Electric to immediately halt unannounced load shedding and to target only non-paying consumers, rather than punishing the entire city.
