K-Electric Causes Mental Health Crisis
Prolonged Power Outages Continue Despite Protests
A research highlights increased stress levels, sleep deprivation, social withdrawal, and emotional burnout among individuals subjected to incessant load shedding
Sindh Courier Report
Karachi, Pakistan’s largest metropolis, is grappling with a burgeoning mental health crisis exacerbated by frequent and prolonged power outages. Residents across the city report heightened stress, sleep disturbances, and emotional exhaustion as they endure daily blackouts lasting up to 18 hours in some neighborhoods.
A recent study published in The Research of Medical Science Review underscores the profound psychological impact of chronic power shortages on Pakistani households. The research highlights increased stress levels, sleep deprivation, social withdrawal, and emotional burnout among individuals subjected to incessant load shedding. Participants expressed difficulties in fulfilling basic daily needs, maintaining work obligations, and sustaining interpersonal relationships. Coping strategies, such as adjusting daily routines or seeking alternative power sources, were largely ineffective in mitigating these challenges.
Residents across Karachi have shared personal accounts of the hardships faced due to power outages. In areas like Shanti Nagar, Korangi, Orangi Town, and Liaquatabad, load shedding extends beyond 12 hours daily. The Sindhi Society of Shanti Nagar, Union Council-7 of District East Karachi, a load shedding-free area for years, was targeted last year by the corrupt K-Electric staff and officials and the residents continue to suffer even this day. Beside 10-hour scheduled load shedding, the K-Electric often suspends power supply for whole the day. On May 21 also the power supply was suspended for over 12 hours continuously. The residents of Sindhi Society, sharing their views on WhatsApp group, cursed the K-Electric management for targeting the area people without any reason.
Read – K-Electric: A Failing Monopoly Unfit to Serve Karachi
A number of residents of Sindhi Society told Sindh Courier that some officials and technical staff of K-Electric are involved in power theft, as they, with the help of some local brokers, have been supplying the power from Sindhi Society PMT through illegal connections to scores of houses in neighboring localities against monthly payment of Rs.2000 to Rs.3000 per house. The Sindhi Society residents have strongly protested against this injustice and challenged it at legal forums like Federal Ombudsman and NEPRA but the K-Electric continues defying the official orders for resolving the issue.
The residents of Sindhi Society lamented, “The continuous load shedding in this extremely hot weather has badly affected our mental health. The only thing that comes to our mind all day is, ‘there’s gonna be a power outage, when will the power be restored.'”
Read: K-Electric Defies NEPRA Instructions
Similarly, the residents of Korangi and Old Golimar recounted their miseries, as they endure power outages every two hours, leading to sleep deprivation and a lack of energy to work or even live.
The mental health ramifications of power outages extend beyond individual households. Protests have erupted across Karachi, with residents blocking roads and burning tires to express their frustration over prolonged blackouts. In areas like Liaquatabad and Azizabad, demonstrations have disrupted traffic and highlighted the community’s desperation for a reliable power supply.
Experts emphasize the urgent need for policy interventions to address the psychological impact of load shedding. Recommendations include constructing facilities to provide mental health support and implementing strategies to ensure a stable electricity supply.
As Karachi continues to face the challenges of frequent power outages, the mental well-being of its residents remains at risk. Addressing this issue requires a concerted effort from policymakers, utility providers, and the community to develop sustainable solutions that prioritize both infrastructure and mental health.
Read: K-Electric Torments Sindhi Society Residents
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