Residents and business owners in Khairpur are facing severe hardship due to daily power outages lasting up to 18 hours, prompting them to threaten widespread protests against the Sukkur Electric Supply Company (SEPCO) if the prolonged load shedding is not immediately reduced.
The extended power cuts have intensified despite the arrival of winter, a period when electricity demand typically decreases. Reportedly, the duration of load shedding imposed by the SEPCO Khairpur sub-division has been extended, contrary to seasonal expectations.
Areas such as Mohalla Bachal Shah, Altaf Colony, and Shahi Bazaar are among the most affected. The Shahi Bazaar feeder, crucial for the city’s commercial hub, is allegedly receiving only five to six hours of electricity daily, causing severe disruptions to daily life and commerce.
Local shopkeepers have expressed their frustration, stating that the prolonged power outages in business centers are causing substantial financial losses amounting to millions of rupees daily. The constant unavailability of electricity has severely impacted their operations.
Efforts by the affected community to resolve the situation have been futile, with citizens reporting that complaints filed with SEPCO officials have been ignored. In response, traders and residents have issued an ultimatum, demanding an end to the crippling load shedding and warning that they will stage a massive protest against the utility company if their demands are not met.