Uncoordinated digging and pickaxing remain one of the leading causes of unscheduled power outages in Karachi, K-Electric (KE) said, reporting 1,935 such incidents in FY26 alone. In some cases, restoration took longer than a day because damaged underground cables are difficult to repair.
Of the total, 456 incidents involved parties that could not be identified, which KE said points to a gap in coordination before excavation work begins. That is nearly a quarter of the cases. The utility said such damage disrupts electricity supply to nearby communities and businesses and also creates serious safety risks for workers and the public.
Underground cable repairs take longer to resolve
KE spokesperson Imran Rana said established protocols exist to help utilities and civic agencies coordinate their work. Outages caused by damage to underground cables are more complex, need specialised teams and take longer to resolve, he said.
He added that verifying underground utility routes before digging could significantly reduce accidents, damage and disruption to power supply.
Calls for coordination before any excavation in Karachi
KE has repeatedly urged civic agencies, contractors, private developers and the public to contact relevant utility providers before any excavation. The company said this matters in a dense city like Karachi, where power, water, gas and telecom networks run beneath roads and public spaces.
Following these procedures is critical, KE said, to protect workers and residents and to keep essential services running.
