Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, Monem Zafar Khan, announced his party’s strong opposition to K-Electric’s seven-year dollar-based generation tariff, deeming it unjust. Khan stated that the tariff is unacceptable and called for the immediate cancellation of K-Electric’s license along with a forensic audit of its operations.
He emphasized that the people of Karachi would not bear the burden of this “exploitation” and vowed to continue their struggle against K-Electric’s alleged malpractice. Khan, who has been at the forefront of the movement against K-Electric’s pricing structure, confirmed that Jamaat-e-Islami would actively participate in a National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) hearing scheduled for November 28 as petitioners. He further criticized the alliance between the government, NEPRA, and K-Electric, which he described as a “demonic alliance” working against the interests of Karachi’s residents.
Khan also pointed out that the tariff deal with K-Electric stands in stark contrast to the government’s actions against Independent Power Producers (IPPs), where it has renegotiated or canceled agreements in an attempt to curb costs. Khan, an outspoken critic of K-Electric’s billing practices, revealed that the utility company had continued to profit from unfair billing practices, despite the government’s claim to have saved billions by renegotiating IPP contracts.
He claimed that while the country’s economy was benefiting from these savings, the citizens of Karachi were seeing no relief, with some residents facing power bills higher than their rent. “Under these agreements, K-Electric collects all the money from the people of Karachi through inflated electricity bills,” Khan said. “The government is betraying the public by declaring winter relief while people continue to struggle with skyrocketing bills.” He remarked on the ongoing power outages, which continue to plague the city, despite the utility’s increased revenues.
Khan criticized the local government for its failure to address Karachi’s deteriorating infrastructure, which is further exacerbating the difficulties faced by residents. Monem Khan asserted, would not back down in its fight against the excessive tariffs and would continue to advocate for the people of Karachi through street protests, sit-ins, and legal action.
His comments also included a stark reminder of how Karachi, which accounts for a significant portion of the country’s economy, continues to suffer from poor governance and neglect.
The press conference was attended by several notable figures, including Muslim Parvez, Deputy Parliamentary Leader of Karachi’s Municipal Corporation, and other members of the party. Several residents and business owners, distressed by K-Electric’s load-shedding and overbilling practices, also shared their experiences during the event.
One individual recounted that his electricity bill for just two units of consumption amounted to 2,000 rupees, highlighting the excessive charges faced by everyday Karachiites.
