Karachi – A sudden power outage has thrown several offices of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) into chaos, disrupting critical aircraft maintenance work and worsening the already fragile situation in the city.
According to sources, electricity supply to key departments including the Isfahani Hangar, PIA Engineering, and the Aircraft Engineers’ offices was abruptly suspended. The blackout has forced maintenance activities inside the Isfahani Hangar to come to a complete standstill, raising concerns over flight schedules and safety checks.
Officials confirmed that power from K-Electric to multiple PIA facilities has remained disconnected for the past three days. “The longer this continues, the more serious the operational impact becomes,” a source inside the airline told reporters.
The disruption comes as Karachi grapples with a citywide electricity crisis triggered by two days of heavy rainfall. K-Electric acknowledged that at least 98 feeders remain inactive after rainwater flooded underground cables and substations. As a result, many neighborhoods including Surjani Town, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Baldia, Bin Qasim, DHA, and Scheme 33 have been without electricity for 48 hours straight.
The prolonged outages have not only paralyzed businesses and offices but also left households facing acute water shortages. Frustrated citizens say that despite repeated assurances from K-Electric’s CEO Moonis Alvi, NEPRA’s intervention, and efforts by Provincial Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, the ground realities remain unchanged.
For PIA, the crisis is more than an inconvenience. Without immediate restoration of electricity, the airline’s ability to carry out essential maintenance could be compromised, potentially putting operations at risk.
