Karachi, The power sector’s inefficiencies are pushing Pakistan toward financial ruin, impacting both individual consumers and the broader productive sectors. A significant burden is about to be placed on consumers, who are expected to pay an additional Rs7 per unit in March on top of existing electricity costs, further exacerbating the financial strain on the public.
According to Pakistan Economy Watch, this forthcoming charge represents a critical challenge for consumers, as it marks a departure from the traditional reduction in electricity bills during the winter season. Instead, bills have been on a continuous rise. The proposed increase of Rs7.13 per unit for March, attributed to a fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for electricity consumed in January, adds to the sector’s woes. Among the reasons cited for this hike are the increased insurance costs due to Houthi raids in the Red Sea and higher diesel and petrol prices, factors that policymakers must address as they become increasingly unbearable for consumers.
Dr. Mughal criticized the continuous rate hikes in electricity as a misguided solution to the sector’s issues of theft, corruption, mismanagement, and incompetence. These practices not only burden the masses but also have a detrimental effect on the economy. Furthermore, the discouragement of solar energy investors and consumers, in favor of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), is a policy that Dr. Mughal urges to be abandoned. The significant investments made by the public and investors in the solar sector are being undermined, worsening the investment climate and pushing people away from solar energy back to more expensive electricity sources.
The shift in government policies towards reducing the profits of solar consumers engaged in net metering, which allows them to sell surplus power back to the grid, is seen as a tactic to discourage investment in renewable energy. This inconsistency in policies deters investors and has contributed to minimal investment in the country. Dr. Mughal pointed out the adverse effects of IPPs on the economy, with influential figures in successive governments seemingly supporting IPPs for personal gain, despite the need for structural reforms in the power sector.
The continuous increase in electricity prices, as per Dr. Mughal, leads to higher theft rates and reduced usage, complicating capacity payments to IPPs. However, no government has yet to initiate meaningful reforms to address these challenges, leaving the power sector in a precarious state that not only affects the financial well-being of consumers but also poses a significant threat to Pakistan’s economic stability.
Karachi, In a significant move towards eradicating illiteracy, two prominent charities, the Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) and the Green Crescent Trust (GCT), in collaboration with the Sindh government, have renewed their commitment to enroll hundreds of thousands of out-of-school children in Sindh. The pledge was made during the SAF-GCT annual dinner, where leaders from the Sindh Education Foundation (SEF), SAF, and GCT, along with government representatives, highlighted the need for a collaborative effort to tackle the education crisis in the province.
According to Green Crescent Trust, the event was marked by the auction of memorabilia from sports legends including Shahid Afridi and Jahangir Khan, with Karachi’s business community actively participating. The proceeds are earmarked for funding the SAF-GCT’s charitable campaign aimed at providing education to children from underprivileged backgrounds across Sindh.
Shahid Afridi, Chairman of SAF, emphasized the foundation’s dedication to reaching the most remote areas of the country to provide basic educational facilities. Afridi highlighted the importance of enrolling out-of-school children and particularly stressed the significance of girls’ education for the broader development of families and communities.
SEF Managing Director, Abdul Kabir Kazi, advocated for public-private partnerships as the most effective approach to expand educational facilities for out-of-school children. He revealed that SEF, as an arm of the Sindh government, has been instrumental in opening new educational centers in remote parts of Sindh at an unprecedented pace, with 150 non-formal education centers already operational.
GCT CEO, Zahid Saeed, expressed his gratitude towards the Karachi business fraternity for their support and shared the ambitious goal of the GCT to increase the number of charitable schools to 250 by 2025, aiming to enroll 100,000 children from needy families. He also mentioned the expansion of GCT’s charitable activities into Balochistan, marking the foundation’s commitment to national educational development.
The event not only served as a platform for fundraising but also as a reminder of the collective responsibility of government agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and philanthropists to combat illiteracy and ensure that every child has access to quality education. With continued support and collaboration, these efforts are expected to transform the educational landscape of Sindh and contribute significantly to Pakistan’s progress.