During a press conference in Karachi, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) interim chief MunimZafar Khan dismissed a suggestion to obtain a power distribution license under Alkhidmat Foundation, opting instead to announce protests on May 11 against K-Electric.
Despite suggestions to leverage JI’s philanthropic arm for cheaper electricity, Zafar emphasized protests and hinted at sit-ins. The move drew criticism, with reminders of past opportunities for collaboration with NEPRA also being ignored. Zafar criticized KE’s services, citing persistent load shedding and excessive billing.
However, a K-Electric (KE) spokesperson defended the company’s performance, highlighting investments and efforts The Jamat-e-Islami chief, MunimZafar Khan, who recently contested the general elections of 2024 from NA-247, however, was voted in at the 3rd place with MQM-P’s, KhawajaIzhar-ul-Hassan declared as the winner, was also reminded about the fact that his predecessor was also once offered by former Chairman NEPRA to work collaboratively in finding solutions for issues being faced by the citizens of Karachi and this suggestion was completely ignored.
The suggestion of leveraging JI’s expertise to establish a power distribution utility went unaddressed, with Zafar emphasizing further protests and hinting at potential sit-in protests at K-Electric’s office and the Governor’s House in Karachi. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) interim chief MunimZafar Khan also criticized the Pakistan People’s Party for perceived continued inaction, and lamented it being a part of “the system”.
During a press conference abruptly ended by probing questions, a senior journalist suggested that Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi (JI) could utilize its Alkhidmat Foundation to apply for a distribution license, potentially offering free electricity to Karachi’s citizens. However, interim JI Karachi chief, MunimZafar, conversed on GOP to take lead in arranging a conversation with Independent Power Producers (IPPS).
Speaking at the press conference in Karachi, MunimZafar, the chief of the JI Karachi chapter, propagated KE’s subpar services, asserting, “Despite privatization, KE has failed to fulfill its promises to the people of Karachi. Reports from our workers indicate that 10–12-hour load shedding persists unabated, accompanied by excessive billing.” Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) interim chief MunimZafarKhan noted a decrease in generation despite a rise in customers since 2005, highlighting that the losses incurred by government DISCOS were lower than those of KE.
Zafar, visibly challenged by the intricacies of the power sector discourse, expressed satisfaction in appointing a proxy to advocate for Karachi’s residents at NEPRA’s forthcoming hearings. In response to a question, a K-Electric (KE) spokesperson defended their company’s performance, noting significant investments of Rs 544 billion in the power system since privatization, resulting in doubling customer numbers (from 1.8 million to 3.5 million), and doubling the infrastructure while reducing the losses by more than a half.
The Spokesperson further highlighted KE’s plans to invest more than USD 2 billion in power infrastructure between 2024 to 2030 enabling the company to increase by 2030 the share of cheaper power from renewables and indigenous fuels, increasing the customer base to 5.0 million and further reducing the overall losses by 30 percent.
In a press statement earlier received on the day, K-Electric (KE) highlighted their ongoing efforts to combat power theft and ensure electrical infrastructure safety. They emphasized regular actions against illegal power usage, conducting over 24,000 kunda removal drives since the start of fiscal year 2023-24. These efforts resulted in the removal of 190,000 illegal connections and the seizure of over 260,000kgs of illegal kunda wires.
K-Electric (KE) also mentioned collaboration with law enforcement, resulting in over 900 FIRs against individuals involved in power theft across Karachi. Despite challenges, 71 percent of KE’s feeder network remains load shed free, with efforts ongoing to address power theft and non-payment issues.
As the demand for electricity continues to surge worldwide, efforts to promote solar energy are gaining momentum. Many countries are installing model solar farms in rural areas. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, record-breaking declines in solar panel prices are making affordable solar systems accessible to the public.
Private organizations can establish model solar villages in urban and rural areas, encouraging communities to transition towards alternative energy sources.
