Karachi’s electric bus service has been disrupted after electricity supply at Mehran Depot remained suspended for three consecutive days, forcing transport administrators to temporarily deploy hybrid buses on the affected routes. Officials confirmed that the electricity interruption at the depot has been caused by unannounced load shedding, and warned that three electric bus routes may face suspension without restored power supply. The affected routes include EV1, which operates between Malir Cantt and Sea View, EV3, which connects Malir Cantt to Numaish, and R1 Pink Bus, which runs between Khokhrapar and Dockyard. The disruption to the electric bus network comes at a time when the city is already grappling with severe and unscheduled electricity outages affecting residential and commercial areas across multiple neighbourhoods.
Residents across Karachi have reported severe difficulties due to extended power interruptions, with outages in some neighbourhoods lasting more than 12 continuous hours. Areas including Orangi Town, Korangi, Lyari, Mauripur, Lines Area, Qayyumabad, Malir, Manghopir, Keamari, Surjani, and New Karachi have experienced repeated prolonged electricity disruptions. Citizens in Soldier Bazaar, Hawksbay Road, and Gulshan-e-Maymar also reported frequent outages, while Malir and Landhi faced repeated long electricity interruptions. The scale and geographic spread of the disruptions point to a city-wide power supply failure that goes well beyond routine load shedding schedules.
Protests erupted in multiple localities including Orangi Town, where residents demanded immediate restoration of electricity following prolonged and unannounced power cuts. Some residents claimed electricity remained unavailable for two to three days in parts of Orangi and Baldia Town, intensifying demands against unscheduled outages. The situation in these communities reflects a deepening frustration with a power supply system that residents describe as both unreliable and unaccountable, with outages arriving without notice and lasting far beyond any published schedule.
K-Electric denied claims of extended outages exceeding 10 hours, stating that interruptions occur due to non-payment of bills rather than prolonged technical failures. The utility’s response has done little to address the frustration of residents whose daily routines, businesses, and now access to public transport are being directly affected. For a city that has invested in electric bus infrastructure as part of a broader push toward modern, sustainable urban mobility, the inability to maintain a consistent power supply to the very depot that charges and operates those buses presents a pointed illustration of how power sector deficiencies can undermine technology investments long before they have a chance to deliver on their full potential.
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