According to authorities on Friday, hundreds of protesters stormed a power plant in one of Pakistan’s hottest cities to express their disapproval over power outages that lasted up to 20 hours a day.
In the event that occurred on Thursday night in remote Sibi, in the southern Balochistan province, where temperatures soared at 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), the demonstrators also looted the station’s neighboring administrative building.
“People stormed the electricity supply office and ransacked it last night and a case has been lodged against them,” police official Anayatullah Bungulzai told AFP, adding that the group numbered up to 800 people.
Due to fuel shortages, planned power outages, commonly referred to as loadshedding, occur frequently in Pakistan and vary in duration depending on the location.The biggest province of Pakistan, Balochistan, experiences extended power outages that impact entire neighborhoods because to a combination of inadequate electricity generation and unpaid consumer bills.
Afzal Baloch, spokesperson for the Quetta Electricity Supply Company, told AFP the company suffers “significant” monthly losses due to outstanding payments.
On Friday, however, demonstrator Noor Ahmad claimed that “the excessive loadshedding lasting for hours despite our timely payments of bills” was what “compelled” them to take action.
One of Pakistan’s hottest populated places is Sibi, where heatwaves can bring temperatures as high as 50C (122F).
According to scientists, climate change is causing these situations to become longer, more frequent, and more powerful.
One of the poorest regions in Pakistan, Balochistan struggles with inadequate security, difficult terrain, erratic water supplies, and limited job prospects.
