K-Electric, a private electricity supplying company, was once a government institution. When the institution was privatized, the privatization agreement reached with the government did not come to light for almost ten years.
The agreement, which was later unveiled, did not allow the company to increase power generation as much as it should and power transmission did not improve. Prolonged load shedding and power outages have become a part of the lives of the citizens of Karachi.
Citizens were forced to protest. A few days earlier, residents of Garden area took to the streets to protest against power outages and blocked the roads. On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami is also holding protests for the past year.
Surprisingly, MQM Pakistan, the self-proclaimed heir, has only issued press statements and passed resolutions in the Sindh Assembly against K Electric’s over-billing and prolonged load shedding.
The MQM has not protested against the lack of electricity and water, sewerage, garbage collection and non-cleaning of drains in Karachi. Some people say that the MQM is allowed limited politics and is not allowed to protest on any public issues.
There is a growing awareness among the people that they have to fight for their rights. Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered an end of unannounced load shedding Instead K-Electric paid no need announced additional loadshedding.
Load shedding takes place in Karachi but it has a negative impact on the national economy. The famous saying goes that Karachi belongs to everyone but no one belongs to Karachi. Whether it is the Sindh government or the federal government, no one has any interest in solving Karachi’s problems.
If there is no solution to Karachi’s power supply problem, then the resolution of the Sindh Assembly to give licenses to other power companies should be implemented immediately. Then there will be a choice for the people of Karachi to choose any power supply company they want.
NEPRA is responsible for regulating power supply and taking action against over-billing and unannounced load shedding. Instead, NEPRA benefits K-Electric and many people especially political parties accuse NEPRA of making decisions in their favour.
Following the Supreme Court decisions and harsh remarks, NEPRA held a public hearing at a local hotel in Karachi. During the hearing, the public representatives started criticising the company strongly but KE agents present there caused a commotion and spoiled the atmosphere and NEPRA officers left instead of solving the problems.
NEPRA’s role became questionable at a time when K-Electric was allowed to raise the price of electricity without justification.
