Extreme Heat and Electricity Failures Cripple Pumping Operations Across the City

KARACHI – Karachi’s ongoing energy crisis has taken a severe toll on its water supply system, with power outages disrupting key pumping stations and halting the delivery of at least 90 million gallons of water over a span of two days, according to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC).

In a statement released Thursday, the KWSC reported that the city’s main pumping stations at the K3 and K4 phases were left inoperative due to extended electricity blackouts during the peak of the heatwave.

The power failure first occurred on May 27, rendering the K3 and K4 systems inactive and causing a shortfall of 45 million gallons in the daily water supply. A second outage on May 28 began in the early morning hours at 2:45 a.m. and continued until nearly 8:00 a.m., completely cutting off power to K3 and once again preventing another 45 million gallons of water from reaching Karachi residents.

The water supply disruption came at a time when the city was already grappling with record-high temperatures, adding to the hardship faced by millions who rely on regular access to clean water.

Though KWSC has confirmed that water distribution has since returned to normal, the incident highlights the vulnerability of essential services in the face of persistent electricity failures.

Frequent blackouts have become a harsh reality for Karachi’s citizens this summer, affecting not only water infrastructure but also businesses, households, and healthcare services. The recurring load-shedding has stirred public frustration and drawn sharp criticism from residents and the business sector alike.

Last week, representatives from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry raised the issue with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), warning that the ongoing power crisis is severely hampering commercial activity and daily life across the city.

As the city braces for more heat in the coming days, the call for a stable energy supply grows louder—not only to keep businesses running but to ensure basic necessities like water remain uninterrupted.