Power shortage continued on the second day on Wednesday despite the claim of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation that it has managed the shortage through periodical load-shedding in different areas.
More than half of the city remained under the grip of acute power shortage throughout the day till late in the evening as disproportionate load-shedding created hardship for the residents of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Nazimabad, Gulberg, Liaquatabad, Baldia Town, Jamshed Town, parts of Malir, Landhi, Korangi Town, and many other areas. These adversely affected areas were also in the grip of water shortage.
The load-shedding has adversely affected voltage and a 100-watt bulb hardly competes with a bulb of 40-watt. Air-conditioners are also not operative due to low voltage.
A press release of the KESC issued on Wednesday, said that snapping of Wapda circuit at Jamshoro resulting in power shortage of 500 to 600 megawatt was continuing, and it was being managed through load-shedding.
The press release said the city stopped receiving power supply from Wapda on Tuesday evening, as both Wapda circuits supplying 550 mw electricity tripped due to snapping of one of the high-tension lines. One circuit was energised on Tuesday night, while the other was still being repaired.
The release said the KESC engineers were in constant contact with the Wapda staff at Jamshoro requesting them for early rehabilitation of the other circuits for the load-shedding in Karachi to end.
It also said the KESC since Tuesday evening was managing the power shortage of 550 mw by rotational group wise load-shedding of the residential, commercial, and industrial areas of the city by switching off about 150-200 power supply feeders out of total 820.
The duration of power cuts in each area has been for two hours starting from 5 pm on Tuesday to 5 pm on Wednesday, no load shedding was carried out between 5 am to 9 am in early morning on Wednesday because of lowering of the city power demand during the period.
The press release said at 9 am on Wednesday morning as the city offices and businesses resumed work the power gap of 70 mw was created and load-shedding begins. By 4 pm the KESC was facing power deficiency of 370 mw.
At 5 pm when the KESC engineers contacted the Wapda staff for finding out when the power supply will resume from the second circuit to end load-shedding in Karachi, the Wapda engineers at Jamshoro were unable to specify the time when they would be able to energise the other circuit for supplying the required quantum of 600 mw to the city.
Each circuit provides 300 mw of power to the KESC for meeting the entire city power demand for 1975 mw.
The KESC hopes that as soon as required power supply from Wapda resumes, load shedding in Karachi will end.