A severe spell of load-shedding has engulfed the city, plunging large parts of Karachi into prolonged darkness amid the sweltering April heat that is typical of the season. As temperatures soar, the power outages have pushed citizens to the edge, testing their patience and leaving them to endure unbearable conditions without relief.

Residents across multiple neighbourhoods report prolonged power outages lasting up to 16 hours or more, while even so-called exempted areas are facing unscheduled shutdowns under the pretext of maintenance work.

The worsening situation has triggered widespread frustration, with citizens accusing K-Electric of failing to control both scheduled and unscheduled load-shedding despite rising electricity demand amid extreme weather conditions. According to reports from various localities, the duration of power cuts has increased by an additional four to six hours, further compounding the crisis. In areas officially exempt from load-shedding – such as Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, North Karachi, Shadman Town, and Gulshan-e-Maymar – residents still report two to four hours of outages, often justified as “maintenance shutdowns.”

Meanwhile, affected neighbourhoods are facing three to five hour outages multiple times a day, pushing total blackout periods to alarming levels.

In several of these areas, prolonged outages of 15 to 20 hours have been reported, forcing families to endure sleepless nights in extreme heat.

Citizens say the situation has become increasingly unbearable, particularly for children, the elderly, and patients, as heatwaves intensify across the city.

Responding to the complaints, a spokesperson for K-Electric stated that announced load-shedding is being carried out with a maximum duration of 10 hours in areas with high transmission losses, while approximately 70% of feeders remain exempt from load-shedding.

However, ground realities reported by residents suggest a widening gap between official claims and actual conditions on the ground.