Karachi, Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party (PDP), Altaf Shakur, announced plans to challenge the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (Nepra) decision to renew K Electric’s license for another twenty years. Shakur questioned the basis of this decision, citing the company’s performance over the past two decades and the impact on Karachi’s citizens.
According to Pasban Democratic Party, the PDP Chairman criticized Nepra for perpetuating what he views as a monopoly of K Electric in Karachi. He argued that this move ignores the citizens’ concerns and places undue burden on both industrialists and the general public due to high electricity prices. Shakur also expressed skepticism about the renewal of K Electric’s license based on its purported performance, suggesting a lack of transparency in the decision-making process.
The statement further accused the People’s Party of being responsible for imposing K Electric on Karachi for another twenty years. Shakur called for the impeachment of Nepra, accusing it of being complicit in establishing K Electric’s monopoly. He condemned the renewal of K Electric’s contract as a punishment to the people of Karachi, questioning why electricity prices in Pakistan are higher compared to other parts of the world.
Shakur also highlighted the broader issue of energy policy in Pakistan, holding all parties that have governed Karachi responsible for the current state of K Electric. He suggested that the power sector should be handed over to honest and competent individuals, criticizing the current management as detrimental to the city’s business environment.
The PDP Chairman alleged that in Karachi, electricity theft is organized and facilitated by corrupt staff within the electricity mafia, leading to unjustified load shedding and over-billing. He argued that such large-scale theft could not occur without the connivance of K Electric’s staff.
The statement from Shakur also touched on the broader sense of deprivation among Karachi’s citizens, blaming the bureaucracy for adopting policies that he claims are harmful to the people. He called for sacrifices from judges, generals, bureaucrats, and politicians for the betterment of the country.
Shakur proposed that to address the issue of electricity supply and efficiency, more than one electricity company should be established in Karachi. This, he believes, would allow people to choose their electricity provider based on better service and efficiency.
The announcement by the Pasban Democratic Party signals a significant challenge to Nepra’s decision, reflecting the ongoing debate over electricity supply, pricing, and management in one of Pakistan’s largest cities.