K-Electric to inject more than Rs. 250bn in next three years to improve system

KARACHI: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) K-Electric Moonis Alvi said that the company would inject more than Rs. 250 billions to improve the system of company as the load-shedding and others related-issues could be resolved.

He expressed these views while addressing a hearing on public complaints against the metropolis' sole power supplier organized by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority's (NEPRA) here.

The hearing was attended by the people from different walk of life and officials of the K-Electric.

K-Electric CEO Alvi said the city's sole power supplier had boosted power infrastructure by 104%.

The company has reduced losses by 16% and the consumer growth has been registered a rise by 9%," he said, adding that the KE has invested more than what was required under an agreement with NEPRA.

There were 350 loss and very high loss feeders in Karachi, Chief KE said. Earlier, Chairman NEPRA Tauseef H. Farooqi said the goal of the hearing was not to make a decision yet but to listen to the problems of Karachi's people.

We are here to work on a single point agenda; Chairman NEPRA said adding the people of Karachi will inform us of the ground realities. He further said if good service is not being provided, then it is our duty to look into such matters immediately.

Hopefully, the citizens here will present their case well, he said.

Speaking to K-Electric, Chairman asked why the prepaid billing system was not introduced so far by the company.

Speaking on the occasion, MQM-Pakistan leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan said a unanimous resolution was passed in the Sindh Assembly stating that there should be other companies besides the K-Electric.

Every third consumer in Karachi has paid their fines, the MQM-P leader said, adding that the industrial consumers paid more than Rs. 1.5 billion in fines as well.

No one had approached the consumer court, Hassan said the K-Electric committed the biggest violation of the users' rights protection forum.

An activist Jibran Nasir said the hearing's focus was to decide on whether to end K-Electric's exclusive rights to distribute electricity to Karachi and allow other players to compete in the market given KE's failure to ensure safe and uninterrupted supply of electricity to Karachi.

Industrialist Siraj Qasim Teli was also spoke on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, majority of people said that they were facing issues like the over-billing, fines and unscheduled load-shedding in port city.