Karachi, July 8 -- Karachi is grappling with a deepening energy crisis as soaring gas prices and persistent shortages are pushing thousands of families into hunger and hardship. The situation has worsened with frequent gas load shedding during critical morning and evening hours, forcing many residents to send children to school without breakfast and leaving households unable to prepare basic meals.

This crisis is compounded by the federal government's recent 14 per cent tax increase on gas, making an already dire situation even more unbearable for low-income communities, an independent report revealed on Tuesday.

Residents described daily struggles where the gas supply is cut from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., with n...