Reporting Safety Hazards in Karachi: K-Electric’s Alertli App Steps Up
Karachi has seen some serious growth over the past few decades. According to the ‘Digital Census’ 2023, Karachi holds the title of the most populous city, with a population of 20.4 million, while the total population of Sindh province stands at 55.70 million. This presents significant challenges for policymakers, government institutions, civil society, and the residents themselves.
Karachi faces numerous safety issues that have a negative impact on both its residents and visitors. This covers health and environmental risks like heat waves and urban flooding. Public sector organizations’ indifference and slow-moving bureaucracy exacerbate the city’s harsh weather conditions as climate change intensifies.
A significant issue we encounter is road and traffic safety. The city is facing major traffic jams and poorly organized traffic systems, along with a high number of road accidents caused by reckless driving, disregard for traffic rules, and crumbling roads.
Electric safety hazards are common in Karachi, with most accidents occurring within homes or private properties. This primarily occurs due to a lack of awareness among the public. Illegal connections, commonly referred to as ‘kunda’, not only result in significant financial losses but also pose serious safety risks. Building safety is a significant issue, and numerous structures fail to comply with safety regulations.
Consider, for example, the number of electrocution cases occurring in Karachi. From 2019 to 2023, there were over 388 reported cases of electrocution. It’s important to note that 70 percent of electrocution incidents happen in homes. Many individuals have suffered electrocution while operating a generator or electric motor in flooded areas. Following straightforward safety measures can prevent almost 50% of the incidents that result in fatalities.
The primary issue arises when it comes to reporting safety hazards before something bad happens. People are finding it difficult to report safety issues in their neighborhoods, and it’s frustrating that the relevant organizations aren’t responding to address the problem. The disorganization and varying jurisdictions among public sector institutions have impacted the lives of people in Karachi.
K-Electric, the biggest power utility company, has taken action to tackle safety hazards and enhance living conditions in Karachi. K-Electric has launched the ‘Alertli’ mobile app, which allows citizens to report safety hazards, enabling the relevant authorities to take appropriate action. Alertli uses crowdsourcing and AI to identify and report safety hazards or accidents. We encourage residents to download the app and contribute to enhancing public safety.
Karachi has the highest level of digital penetration compared to all other cities in Pakistan. Over 70% of residents have internet access, and there’s at least one smartphone in every household. So, it made perfect sense to develop a mobile app for reporting all kinds of safety hazards, including encroachments. K-Electric has taken steps to improve urban safety and efficiently report hazards. The goal was to create a safe and strong urban space by actively spotting, tackling, and reducing safety risks.
Tackling the various urban safety, health, and environmental challenges in the city needs teamwork from government bodies, service providers, social welfare groups, and residents alike. We all have a role to play in taking care of our city, too.Reporting Safety Hazards in Karachi: K-Electric’s Alertli App Steps Up
By Publishing Partner | Published on August 9, 2024 | 5:49 PM
Karachi has seen some serious growth over the past few decades. According to the ‘Digital Census’ 2023, Karachi is the most populous city with a population of 20.4 million, while the total population of Sindh province stands at 55.70 million. This presents significant challenges for policymakers, government institutions, civil society, and the residents themselves.
Karachi faces numerous safety issues that have a negative impact on both its residents and visitors. This encompasses health and environmental risks like heat waves and urban flooding. Public sector organizations’ indifference and slow bureaucratic processes exacerbate the city’s harsh weather conditions as climate change intensifies.
A significant issue we encounter is road and traffic safety. The city is facing major traffic jams and ineffective traffic management, along with a high number of road accidents caused by reckless driving, disregard for traffic regulations, and deteriorating road conditions.
Electric safety hazards are common in Karachi, with most accidents occurring within homes or private properties. This mainly stems from a lack of public awareness. Illegal ‘kunda’ connections are prevalent, not only causing significant financial losses but also posing serious safety risks. Building safety is a significant issue, and numerous structures fail to comply with safety regulations.
Consider, for example, the number of electrocution cases occurring in Karachi. From 2019 to 2023, there were over 388 reported incidents of electrocution. It’s important to note that 70 percent of electrocution incidents happen in residential areas. Many individuals have suffered electrocution while operating a generator or electric motor in flooded regions. Following straightforward safety measures can prevent almost 50% of the incidents that result in fatalities.
The primary issue arises when it comes to reporting safety hazards before an unfortunate incident occurs. People are finding it difficult to report safety issues in their neighborhoods, and it’s frustrating that the relevant organizations aren’t responding to address these problems. The absence of coordination and varying jurisdictions among public sector institutions has impacted the lives of residents in Karachi.
K-Electric, the biggest power utility company, has taken action to tackle safety hazards and enhance living conditions in Karachi. K-Electric has launched the ‘Alertli’ mobile app, which allows citizens to report safety hazards, enabling the relevant authorities to take appropriate action. Alertli uses crowdsourcing and AI to report safety hazards or accidents. We encourage everyone to download the app and help enhance public safety.
Karachi has the highest level of digital penetration compared to all other cities in Pakistan. Over 70% of residents have internet access, and there’s at least one smartphone in every household. So, it made perfect sense to develop a mobile app for reporting all kinds of safety hazards, including encroachments. K-Electric has taken steps to improve urban safety and efficiently report hazards. The goal was to create a safe and strong urban space by actively spotting, tackling, and reducing safety risks.
Tackling the various urban safety, health, and environmental issues in the city needs teamwork from government bodies, service providers, social welfare groups, and residents alike. We all have a role to play in taking care of our city, too.
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