Pakistan is currently facing an electricity crisis as the electricity shortfall reaches 6,000 megawatts causing load shedding up to 12 hours in the sweltering heat. However, the Minister of the State for Petroleum Musadik Malik has pledged to overcome power load-shedding by the mid of July.
Karachi is facing long hours of load shedding during hot and humid weather, that too unannounced. Some areas in Karachi, for instance, Gadap Town, are facing 18 hours of power outages. The dire situation has caused residents of Karachi to come out on the streets. The protesters said that the area was witnessing constant load shedding despite them paying their utility dues.
Protests erupt in Karachi over worst loadshedding in scorching summer. Second day of protest against power outages at Karachi’s Mauripur Road pic.twitter.com/QQIYXb3TxS
— Sana Jamal (@Sana_Jamal) June 28, 2022
Read more: Has the curse of load shedding returned?
On the other hand, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) gave its approval for a hike in electricity tariff for Karachi by Rs5.27 per unit. The K-Electric sought an increase in power tariff by Rs5.31 as fuel adjustment charges for April, however, the power authority approved an Rs5.25 hike. Important to note that residents of Karachi will already be paying an additional Rs7 per unit on basic tariff from July 2022.
The incessant load shedding has become an alarming situation as it negatively impacts the city’s economic activities. However, it seems that the Petroleum Minister has pledged to overcome load shedding.
More funds for K-Electric
Talking to a private media channel, Musadik Malik said he will request Finance Minister Miftah Ismail to release funds for K-Electric.
He said that one of the major reasons behind electricity load-shedding is the water shortage in dams, while the other reasons include coal price hikes and LNG shortages in the international market.
“Only 5,000 megawatts of electricity is being generated instead of 9,500 MW,” he said.
In contrast, Sindh Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that K-Electric is only making money out of Karachi instead of investing in the system. The remark came as a criticism of the power supply company for the mega city as Karachi suffers extended power cuts.
Read more: Major hike in electricity tariff approved for Karachiites
“KE is a profitable company that makes money from the city but the issues it faces are not new. It [KE] should invest on its system but it doesn’t and is up to making money only,” he said.