Excessive loadshedding at trade centres: KCCI urges PM to come to its rescue

ISLAMABAD: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene immediately to end excessive load shedding in Karachi’s commercial and wholesale markets, disclosing that businesses in several major trading centres are receiving electricity for only two hours a day.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, KCCI President Talat Mahmood expressed serious concern over the continued power outages, stating that the issue had remained unresolved for nearly two years despite the intervention of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).

The Chamber recalled that it had first raised the matter with the Prime Minister’s Office through a letter dated November 18, 2024, seeking immediate action against excessive load shedding in Karachi’s commercial areas.

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Following the complaint, the Prime Minister’s Office had referred the matter to NEPRA, whose team subsequently visited Karachi and conducted a survey to examine the situation. However, the Chamber maintained that despite the regulatory authority’s intervention and the passage of nearly two years, no effective solution had been implemented.

According to KCCI, commercial areas are currently receiving electricity for only two hours a day, creating serious difficulties for traders, importers, wholesalers and thousands of employees associated with these markets.

The Chamber specifically referred to complaints received from Jodia Bazar, Pakistan Motorcycle Spare Parts Importers and Dealers Association, Auto Parts Market, Eidgah, Urdu Bazar and Old Haji Camp, where businesses are facing prolonged electricity outages.

Highlighting Karachi’s importance to the national economy, KCCI stated that the city is Pakistan’s principal commercial and industrial hub, contributing more than 67 percent of the country’s revenue and 54 percent of its exports.

It noted that Karachi houses some of the country’s largest wholesale markets dealing in spare parts, textiles, electronics, general merchandise and other essential commodities.

These markets support extensive supply chains linking manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and consumers across the country. Any disruption in their operations, therefore, has implications beyond Karachi and affects commercial activity and the availability of goods in other parts of Pakistan.

The Chamber further pointed out that importers operating in these commercial centres play an important role in facilitating international trade, supplying raw materials and essential goods, generating economic activity and contributing to government revenues through customs duties, taxes and other payments.

Thousands of businesses and their employees depend on the uninterrupted functioning of these markets, it added.

KCCI described the situation as particularly unfair for businesses that fulfil their tax obligations and regularly pay electricity bills but are nevertheless deprived of reliable electricity during their principal operating hours.

It argued that prolonged load shedding penalises compliant consumers while increasing the cost of doing business, reducing productivity, disrupting the supply of goods, threatening employment and discouraging investment.

The Chamber also observed that the situation was inconsistent with the government’s stated objectives of accelerating economic growth, increasing exports, attracting investment and improving tax collection.

It maintained that commercial businesses could not contribute effectively towards these national objectives when they were unable to operate because of inadequate electricity supply.

The KCCI president also raised questions over the implementation of NEPRA’s findings and the effectiveness of remedial measures, particularly when the regulator had already examined the matter following the Prime Minister’s earlier intervention.

Expressing concern over the prolonged delay, the Chamber said that the matter required immediate and decisive action rather than further correspondence and procedural exercises.

KCCI has specifically requested the Prime Minister to direct K-Electric to resolve the long-pending issue and ensure reliable electricity supply to Karachi’s commercial and wholesale markets during business hours.

It emphasised that a timely resolution would provide much-needed relief to traders and importers, strengthen business confidence, protect employment and support the government’s efforts to achieve economic stability and growth.

The Chamber has sought urgent attention from the Prime Minister and a concrete, time-bound resolution of the issue.

Copies of the letter have also been forwarded to Federal Minister for Power SardarAwais Ahmad Khan Leghari and NEPRA Chairman Waseem Mukhtar for necessary action.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026