Growing power crisis.

THE country's escalating power crisis risks exacerbating the law-and-order situation as people take to the streets in the hardest-hit areas. Moreover, the energy crunch has hit telecom companies hard, with a spill-over effect likely to hamper communications and deliver a blow to businesses dependent on seamless internet connectivity, leading cellular mobile operators have warned. Therefore, the power crisis risks spawning several new crises. Major power riots are already being witnessed in Karachi, with people venting their anger against prolonged cuts in the sweltering weather by staging protests in several areas of the city. Among the worst hit has been the Mauripur Road area, where residents of Lyari and the surrounding neighbourhoods staged a lengthy protest on Tuesday. Bedlam was witnessed as police tried to reopen the key artery, resorting to baton charge and tear-gas shelling. An elderly protester lost her life during the melee, though police deny she died due to their actions. According to media reports, the national energy shortfall on Tuesday was a massive 9,000MW, with Karachi, Peshawar and Multan reportedly the most affected cities. Meanwhile, the leading cellular firms of the country have written to the government, warning that if prolonged power outages and restrictions on the import of batteries continued, there could be a...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT