KARACHI: Uncoordinated digging and pickaxing remain major causes of unscheduled power outages in Karachi, with K-Electric (KE) reporting 1,935 such incidents during the 2025–26 fiscal year.
The utility said damage to underground electricity cables often leads to prolonged outages, with restoration work sometimes taking more than 24 hours due to the complexity of repairs.
Of the reported incidents, 456 involved unidentified parties responsible for the excavation, highlighting gaps in coordination before digging activities begin.
KE warned that damage to underground cables disrupts electricity supplies to nearby homes and businesses while creating safety risks for workers and the public.
A KE spokesperson said established procedures were in place to coordinate excavation work among utility providers and civic agencies. However, outages caused by damage to underground cables require specialised teams and take longer to resolve.
The spokesperson stressed that checking the location of underground utility lines before excavation could help prevent accidents, infrastructure damage and power disruptions.
KE has urged residents, contractors, private developers and civic organisations to coordinate with relevant utility providers before starting any digging work.
The company said following these procedures was essential to protecting workers and residents and maintaining vital services in densely populated areas such as Karachi, where electricity, water, gas and telecommunications networks run beneath roads and public spaces.