QUETTA April 25: As rising temperatures put more strain on an already overburdened power distribution system, electricity shortages have drastically worsened throughout Quetta and several parts of Balochistan, forcing residents to put up with extended outages, voltage swings, and frequent system interruptions. As summer has arrived, power outages have become more frequent, making it more challenging for locals who are already experiencing a scorching. The situation for customers in both urban and rural areas is reportedly getting worse due to the energy network’s frequent malfunctions. Residents of Quetta are dealing with prolonged, unexpected load-shedding and ongoing low voltage, which has allegedly caused damage to home appliances worth millions of rupees.Concerns about what they see as an insufficient response from the appropriate authorities have been voiced by public officials and members of civil society.

Although the region usually experiences more seasonal load-shedding during the summer, this year’s issue has gotten worse. Customers claim that even if they pay their electricity bills on time, the supply’s dependability has gotten worse.

Local reports state that outages can continue anywhere from 10 to 11 hours every day in urban places like Quetta, while they can last up to 18 hours in rural areas, negatively affecting public services, company activities, and household life.Extreme weather has made the situation worse, with temperatures as high as 44°C reported in some Balochistani districts. Many residents have been forced to stay indoors due to prolonged power outages and extreme heat, making it difficult for them to survive.

The length and frequency of power outages are reportedly rising along with the temperatures. Hospitals and other vital services have also been impacted, which has caused problems for patients, especially those with heatstroke and other heat-related issues.

Locals have urged authorities to take immediate action in response to the deteriorating situation, shorten the period of load-shedding in Quetta and other heat-affected districts, and guarantee better energy supply during the continuing extreme weather.