The Sindh Assembly session was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Panel of Chairperson Nida Khuhro. At the beginning of the session, Fateha was offered for the martyrs of the military who were victims of terrorism in Balochistan and the martyred Palestinians in Gaza, while prayers were also offered for the security and prosperity of the country.
During the session, a joint resolution submitted by MQM-P's Aamir Siddiqui, PPP's Heer Soho, and PTI's Shabbir Qureshi was unanimously passed, opposing the Rs50 billion surcharge imposed on Karachi's electricity consumers by NEPRA.
The resolution sparked a detailed discussion, with both treasury and opposition members severely criticizing the inefficiency of power distribution companies including K-Electric, HESCO and SEPCO, citing prolonged load shedding and unjustified billing.
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that resolutions have been presented against K-Electric, HESCO, and SEPCO in every session of the assembly, but unfortunately, the authorities of the concerned institutions do not even pay heed to them.
Addressing the Sindh Assembly session, Sharjeel Memon said that the Sindh government has initiated the provision of solar systems for citizens living in extreme temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius. However, he emphasized that this is not a permanent solution. A long-term and sustainable resolution to the electricity crisis must be found, as this country belongs to all of us.
Sharjeel suggested that electricity distribution companies should introduce a prepaid metering system, as it would not only help address consumer complaints but also curb issues such as electricity theft. He emphasized that institutions like K-Electric, HESCO, and SEPCO must adopt an effective mechanism that enables electricity to be provided to consumers on an individual basis.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that once everyone has a prepaid connection, there will be no room for complaints.
Opposition Leader Ali Khursheedi stressed the importance of implementing Assembly resolutions, warning that ignoring them undermines the legislature's authority. He called on the federal government and NEPRA to reverse the financial burden placed on the people of Karachi and Sindh. MQM's Aamir Siddiqui denounced NEPRA's July 18 decision as unjust, arguing that industries were relocating to other provinces, and K-Electric was using the pretext of electricity theft to unfairly extract billions from the public.
PTI's Shabbir Qureshi proposed raising the base consumption slab for electricity from 200 to 300 units to protect low-income households from excessive charges. PPP lawmakers Heer Soho and Asif Musa also criticized the current policy, highlighting that even a single unit above the threshold triggers steep billing, placing unbearable pressure on poor citizens.
PPP MPA Jameel Soomro likened electricity companies to the "East India Company," highlighting the disparity in service between cities like Larkana, suffering 18-hour outages, and cities like Lahore, which enjoy better electricity supply.
Khuram Soomro lamented that electricity company officials ignored the Assembly's summons, demanding legislative action against K-Electric and WAPDA for disrespecting the house.
MQM's Najam Mirza accused NEPRA of economically exploiting Sindh's urban population, while PTI's Muhammad Owais proposed a law requiring FIRs to be registered against K-Electric managers for exceeding 10 hours of load shedding, which he deemed illegal. After extensive discussion, the resolution was passed unanimously.
The session was then adjourned until Friday at 3 PM.
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