K-Electric and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) have joined forces to streamline bill payments through Raast, Pakistan’s first instant payment system. This collaboration, marked by an agreement to test a Proof of Concept under Raast’s Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP) model, aims to integrate K-Electric’s billing services with Raast, making digital payments simpler and more accessible for consumers nationwide. Through this initiative, KE customers will be able to pay bills directly and securely via any bank account, enhancing convenience and promoting real-time transactions. SBP Deputy Governor Saleem Ullah emphasized the value of public-private partnerships like this one in advancing financial digitization. He highlighted that Raast integration will not only simplify daily financial tasks but also foster transparency and efficiency across sectors, benefiting citizens and businesses alike. K-Electric CEO Moonis Abdullah Alvi expressed excitement about this development, calling it a significant milestone in KE’s digital transformation strategy. “This partnership with SBP is a key step in improving customer engagement and accessibility across digital platforms,” he noted, adding that this aligns with KE’s vision for enhanced, digitized services. As the collaboration moves forward, K-Electric’s integration into Raast could set a precedent, encouraging more utility services across Pakistan to embrace digital payment systems.
Moreover, K-Electric, with the assistance of law enforcement, launched an intensive crackdown against electricity theft and illegal connections in Karachi’s Saddar and Gulistan-e-Jauhar areas. The operation led to the removal of over 1,800 illegal “kunda” connections, significantly reducing electricity theft in these neighborhoods. In Saddar, KE teams dismantled 1,325 kundas (illegal hooks), collectively weighing 1,135 kg and contributing to the theft of over 300,000 electricity units monthly. During the operation, authorities filed eight FIRs, identified 262 cases of power theft, and disconnected 505 connections of defaulters. In Gulistan-e-Jauhar, 500 kundas, weighing a total of 2,000 kg, were removed, preventing the theft of 1.1 million electricity units each month. Electricity theft has become a severe issue in Karachi, with illegal connections installed without any safety standards, putting lives at risk. Such theft and unpaid bills contribute to an area’s loss profile, affecting KE’s capacity to deliver reliable electricity. Nearly 70% of KE’s network operates without loadshedding, while other areas face disruptions due to higher losses. KE has called upon residents, local representatives, and community leaders to discourage electricity theft and support timely bill payments, allowing the utility to provide uninterrupted and safer power to the city.
