Karachi traders call power crisis 'economic disaster'

Govt urged to end crippling power outages, cites soaring bills, rampant theft

KARACHI:

Atiq Mir, chairman of the All Karachi Traders Alliance, has described the prolonged and severe electricity load-shedding in Karachi as catastrophic for industry and trade, posing a major barrier to the city's economic growth.

He urged the government to take immediate corrective action, warning that the city, once the "City of Lights," is now plunged into darkness, severely affecting businesses.

Mir pointed out that ongoing conflicts between K-Electric and electricity thieves have resulted in unbearable bills and unfair taxes for consumers.

Low-income users are struggling to afford electricity, and the number of illegal connections is rising. He emphasized that the government must urgently bring power tariffs to a reasonable level.

The chairman also recalled that prior to elections, citizens were receiving 200-300 units of free electricity, which is no longer available even at high costs.

He warned that those paying their bills are unfairly bearing the burden of theft and unpaid bills by others.

Prolonged outages have caused a sharp slowdown in markets and the collapse of remaining businesses, posing a serious threat to the country's overall economy.