Sindh

Improved electricity supply urged

Energy minister highlights absence of Sindh on boards of power utility of Karachi and NEPRA

Our Correspondent July 04, 2023

Exasperated by prolonged power cuts in extreme hot weather, women and children block a road in protest in the Old Haji Camp neighbourhood of Karachi. Photo: Jalal Qureshi/Express

KARACHI:

Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh expressed his concern regarding the on-going electricity supply issues in the province.

Despite the power distribution companies falling under the authority of the federal government, the provincial government has consistently urged them to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to alleviate public suffering.

In a statement issued on Monday, Shaikh emphasised that the transmission companies, regulated by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and power division of the federal government, contribute to the challenges faced by the province.

He further highlighted the absence of representation for Sindh in the K-Electric Board and NEPRA, which has compounded the difficulties faced by the people.

Shaikh stressed that adopting modern technology could have prevented frequent power outages for regular bill-paying customers. He cited K Electric's claim of Rs25 billion in arrears in various areas of Karachi, underscoring the need for improved infrastructure and accountability.

Furthermore, the energy minister highlighted that the National Transmission and Distribution Company, headquartered in Lahore, determines the extent of load-shedding. With the K-E's contract set to expire in a few weeks, Shaikh called on the federal government to involve the provincial government in discussions before entering into a new agreement, as the provincial government is a major stakeholder.

JI denounces power outages

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has strongly lambasted the federal and provincial governments as well as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) criminal silence over worst kind of load shedding in Karachi despite extremely hot weather.
He said that KE discontinued electricity supply on one pretext or another even on Eid days. He demanded of the authorities not to provide a new lease of life to the KE and hold forensic audit of the company accounts.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2023.