KARACHI, Dec 22: As citizens across the city experienced yet another day of scheduled and unscheduled load-shedding and power breakdowns, the Karachi Electric Supply Company asserted that the situation has improved, with the electricity shortfall reduced to around 150 megawatts on Monday.

Dawn received a large number of complaints from residents of various parts of the city regarding disruptions in the power supply. Many said that the power breakdowns had become part of their routine.

A caller from Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block 4-A, Journalists colony, said that power supply to the area had been disrupted twice at around 9.30am and 1pm, for about an hour each time.

A retired civil servant from Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block 14, said that power supply to his locality remained shut first from 11am to noon and then from 6pm to 7pm.

A housewife from Nazimabad No 1 said that load-shedding had now become routine, and that power supply to her area remained disrupted from 2pm to 4pm. An agitated resident of Nazimabad Block 4 complained that the electricity had been cut for one hour at 10am, noon and again at 6pm in his area.

A mechanic from Shershah said his area was without electricity for six hours, from 5am to 11am, and power was again cut for three hours at noon. A resident of DHA’s Zamzama area said his area was without power from 11am to noon, and again from around 3pm to 4.30pm. Bahadurabad was also without electricity from 3pm to 4pm. A student from Federal B area Block 20 said his area was without power from 11am to 1pm.

A photographer from Jamshed Road said his locality was without electricity twice today, from midnight (Sunday/Monday night) to 6am, and again from 7am to 8am. He said the electricity was restored for half an hour, and then went again for an hour.

A senior citizen from PECHS Block 6 said that his area was hit by the KESC’s load-shedding thrice on Monday from 11 am to noon, 1.30pm to 2.30pm and then again from 4pm to 5.30pm.

A teacher from Shah Faisal Colony said that his area was without power from 8pm to 10pm.

Responding to Dawn’s queries, the KESC’s Public Relations Officer, Ayesha Erabi, said that the power supply situation in the city on Monday had, by and large, remained normal and there was an approximate shortfall of around 150 megawatts. To meet the shortfall, the KESC had to resort to a rotational load-shedding programme under which load-shedding of approximately one to one and a half hours was implemented.

She, however, could not give the details of the city’s electricity requirement and available electricity supply. Dawn spoke to Ms Erabi thrice, and each time was assured that she would find the details and convey them soon. Responding to a question, Ms Erabi said that any prolonged or repeated power outages were likely due to localised faults, and not load-shedding. She said no major faults occurred on Monday.