KE CEO vows to resolve issues facing SITE industries

KARACHI: Committing to curbing illegal electricity connections and power theft while accelerating infrastructure upgrades for SITE industries, newly appointed K-Electric Chief Executive Officer Syed Muhammad Taha pledged significant improvements in the utility’s service delivery and vowed swift resolution of long-standing grievances of industrialists during a visit to the SITE Association of Industry, where he was accompanied by senior company officials.

The CEO is pursuing technological upgrades encompassing improvements in outage management systems, electronic monitoring and the gradual modernisation of distribution infrastructure.

He added that the Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) matter would be resolved by September this year.

Highlighting operational measures, Muhammad Taha said KE is coordinating with law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities to curb illegal electricity connections and power theft, aiming to improve overall system stability and ensure equitable distribution across the network.

It was decided to prioritise infrastructure upgrades in heavily industrialised feeders and PMT zones, along with improving response time for emergency breakdowns and technical faults affecting industrial operations.

K-Electric CEO observed that overlapping jurisdictions in certain areas cause delays in fault repair work, as permissions from all authorities take considerable time.

Speaking on system improvements, he said that 11 KVA transmission lines should be replaced with 33 KVA lines.

He added that the ISPA charges matter is also being taken up for resolution at the SIFC level.

SITE Association of Industry Acting President Ahmed Zulfiqar Chaudhry welcomed the CEO K-Electric and briefed participants on the importance of the SITE industrial area, spread over approximately 4,700 acres and contributing nearly USD 2.8 billion annually towards exports. He remarked that Taha had earned a strong reputation during his previous assignment as CEO of PSO and expressed optimism for improved coordination between industry and K-Electric under the new leadership.

SITE Association of Industry Patron Saleem Parekh congratulated the new CEO on assuming his responsibilities and stressed the need for improved fault detection systems, stronger operational coordination and timely resolution of industrial complaints.

Former President Javaid Bilwani highlighted issues relating to recurring technical faults, cross-subsidy impact and industrial competitiveness, while Former SVP Khalid Riaz also exchanged views on matters concerning industrial facilitation and operational coordination.

Chairman Energy Sub-Committee Muhammad Kamran Arbi appreciated the improved engagement between K-Electric and the Association and emphasised the need for timely resolution of technical faults.

Zonal Chairman APTPMA Anwer Aziz drew attention of the CEO KE towards incremental use benefit stating that many industries have already passed on the benefit to customers.

Vice President Muhammad Tahir Goreja, Immediate Past President Ahmed Azeem Alvi, former office-bearers, Executive Committee members and industrialists also attended the meeting and exchanged views on issues relating to industrial operations, infrastructure and utility coordination.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026