A s targeted killings continue to terrorise Karachi, the provincial government and the Karachi Electric Supply Company are trying to create further alarm among citizens by keeping the streetlights switched off after midnight at the stretch of Shahrah-e-Faisal lying along the troubled area of Malir.
Motorists try to hurry though the stretch that is engulfed by pitch black darkness at night.
Nawaz, a resident of Salman Garden in Malir, told Pakistan Today that a few days back while coming from his office located at II Chundrigarh Road at 2am, he found all streetlights at Shahrah-e-Faisal switched off from Drigh Road till the Malir 15 stop, making him extremely nervous.
“I was so scared that I was driving my car at the speed of 120km/h,” he said. “The people of Malir and nearby areas are already facing a crisis situation nowadays due to increased violence in the area and the authorities are creating more tensions for us,” he added.
Saleem, a pan shop owner at the Kala Board stop in Malir, told Pakistan Today, “If you visit this area after Maghrib prayers, you will only find darkness that creates anxiety among the shopkeepers.” Saleem used to keep his shop open till 2 am or 3 am, but no he shuts down 10pm.
Sharing his experience, Sharif told Pakistan Today, “I was on my way to pick up my brother from the airport but had to return home (Malir) from Star Gate on my mother’s insistence as we found all the streetlights turned off at Shahrah-e-Faisal and that scared her.” He added that his brother came home in a taxi.
Not only does the absence of light on the road creates anxiety among commuters, but also hinders the flow of traffic and causes accidents.
A milkman said that he leaves Cattle Colony at 3am daily to deliver milk in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, but the darkness on Shahrah-e-Faisal creates trouble while driving.
A few days ago, he hit a donkey-cart and injured its rider. He had to take him to the hospital where the rider was treated but the donkey died.
Pakistan Today contacted the deputy commissioner of Malir, Qazi Jan Muhammad, who said as the rift between the KESC and its union has ended, the streetlights at Shahrah-e-Faisal would not be turned off after midnight now. However, the situation remains unchanged.
