KARACHI: Chief Min­is­ter Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday asked the K-Electric to immediately resolve the problem of loadshedding in the entire city, especially in Lyari.

He issued the directives while chairing a meeting with Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh and senior officials of the KE.

KE Chief Executive Officer Monis Alvi, head of operations Aamir Zia, PPP MPA from Lyari Shazia Singhar, PPP leader Jawaid Nagori and others were also present.

“K-Electric should immediately solve the problem of loadshedding not only in Lyari but in the entire city,” the CM said.

He also asked the people of Lyari to pay their electricity bills on time and asked the chairmen-elect of the union committees to play a role in the payment of electricity bills by consumers in their respective areas.

The KE administration informed the chief minister that 21 per cent area of Lyari was exempted from loadshedding.

The energy minister told the meeting that the people of the city, particularly Lyari, had been facing unannounced and prolonged loadshedding for the past many months.

Other participants in the meeting also lodged several complaints against the power utility and demanded an immediate end to loadshedding.

The energy minister said that the duration of loadshedding in Lyari had reached 10 to 14 hours and the consumers complaints were not addressed.

He said that the people asked their representative to resolve the issue of loadshedding in the city.

Meanwhile, sources in the KE said that the power utility’s senior leadership gave a detailed briefing to the chief minister about the challenges in ensuring regular payment of electricity bills, especially from Lyari.

They informed the meeting that the electricity supply was not possible without ensuring payments of electricity bills in a timely manner.

The energy minister also instructed the party’s city leadership and area representatives of Lyari to ensure a timely payment of electricity bills.

Shutdown in Malir, Gadap today

The KE will be undertaking a critical maintenance activity at Malir/Gadap grids on Thursday (today) to ensure the stability and reliability of power supply to consumers residing in these areas.

A KE statement said that the activity required a shutdown from 09:00am to 6:00pm for Malir/Gadap grids during which there might be temporary interruption of supply in areas connected to the above-mentioned grids.

Areas served by Malir/Gadap grid that may experience power shutdown during the maintenance activity are: Bahria Town M-9 Deh Langheji, Rao Gohram Goth, Hub Dam, AO Farm, Haji Faqeer Mohammed Goth, Sain Rakhio Goth, Haji Mangio Goth, Ishaq Baloch Goth, Radha Goth, Sagar Farm, Mulla Arzi Goth, Ghulam, Muhammad goth, Tamachi Goth, Pub Mali, Chota Gate, Adam Gabol Goth, Abdul Kareem Gabol Goth, Baqai College, Sehre Madina, Poultry State, Faiz Mohammad Gabol Goth, Doda Gabol Goth, Gohar Nayab, Wahid Gabol Goth, Ghulam Muhammad Goth, KDA Cattle Farm, Sattar Farm, Agha Shahi, Hindu Muhallah, Gadap City, Public School, Haji Majnoo Goth, Hussain Baloch Goth, Soomarani Goth, Haji Goth, Haji Mureed Goth, Lassi Muhallah, Dagar Stop, Konchar Stop, Ghajan Goth, Ali Gabol Goth, Haji Achaar Goth, Nabi Buksh Goth, Allah Bachaya Goth, Haji Jabli Goth, Dost Mohammed Khaskheli Goth, Arib Rind, Bijar Gabol Goth, Allah Jurio Goth, Faqir Jokhio Goth, Chanesar Goth, Khamiso Goth, Al-Momin Society, PTV Booster, Organic Meat, Jumani Goth, Abdur Rehman Goth, Ali Muhammad Khaskheli Goth, Haji Ramzan Goth, Gohram Mengal, Muhammad Ali Goth, Shah Farm, Jumani Goth, Ghulam Ali Goth, Al-Jannat Farms, Angara Goth, and Bahadur Goth.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2023