Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab announced on Sunday that discussions are underway with K-Electric to ensure hospitals are spared from the city’s intensifying power cuts, which have disrupted healthcare services and daily life. The statement came during the opening of a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sobhraj Hospital, where Wahab underscored the critical need for reliable electricity in medical facilities.
“We are working closely with K-Electric and the health department to secure a dedicated power line for hospitals, free from load-shedding,” Wahab said. He also highlighted efforts to fast-track solar energy projects as a long-term solution to the city’s energy challenges. “Solarization is a priority to prevent future disruptions, especially for essential services like healthcare,” he added.
Karachi has been grappling with prolonged power outages, with some areas facing cuts lasting several hours daily. The situation has strained hospitals, where consistent electricity is vital for life-saving equipment, particularly during the sweltering summer months.
At the NICU inauguration, Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho emphasized the unit’s role in transforming neonatal care in the city. “This new facility at Sobhraj Hospital means we can now treat premature and critically ill newborns on-site, without transferring them to other hospitals,” she said. Equipped with 25 incubators and advanced ventilators, the unit is designed to care for infants as small as 600 grams, significantly boosting survival rates for vulnerable newborns.
Dr. Pechuho also revealed plans to expand neonatal care across the province, with new NICUs under development in Korangi, Azam Basti, and Jamshoro. “These facilities will help lower infant mortality rates, especially for low-birth-weight babies,” she noted.
The event was attended by key officials, including Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Baloch, SICHCN Executive Director Dr. Jamal Raza, and former caretaker health minister Dr. Saad Khalid Niaz, signaling strong governmental support for improving healthcare infrastructure.
As Karachi battles its power crisis, the mayor’s push for hospital exemptions and renewable energy solutions offers hope for a more resilient healthcare system, ensuring critical care remains uninterrupted for the city’s most vulnerable.
