Residents in several parts of Karachi are struggling with prolonged electricity outages and disrupted gas supplies, prompting protests by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Party leaders have claimed that some neighbourhoods are facing power cuts of up to 21 hours a day, while residents are also experiencing inadequate gas supplies.

The PPP has warned K-Electric and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) that further demonstrations will be organised outside their headquarters if the situation does not improve.

The protest was held in Karachi against persistent electricity and gas shortages. According to Dawn, the rally started at Lyari Gate and ended outside the Karachi Press Club, where demonstrators called on both utility companies to provide immediate relief.

The demonstration was led by PPP South District president Javed Nagori and attended by party workers, MP Sardar Nabil Gabol and residents from Lyari, Saddar, Burns Road and Garden.

Residents face power cuts of up to 21 hours

Speaking during the protest, Nabil Gabol said repeated discussions with electricity company officials had failed to bring any improvement in services.

Nagori alleged that residents in some parts of Lyari were without electricity for around 16 hours daily, with outages extending to as long as 21 hours in certain neighbourhoods.

He also raised concerns over the gas supply, claiming that consumers who had paid for new gas pipeline connections were still not receiving adequate supplies.

PPP leaders warned that unless electricity and gas services improved, they would stage further protests outside the headquarters of K-Electric and Sui Southern Gas Company.

Nagori also highlighted the Sindh government’s initiative to provide solar power systems to thousands of households. He linked the scheme to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s announcement promising 300 units of free electricity.