The President of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Johar Qandhari, has expressed concern over Karachi’s exclusion from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to extend the payment deadline for July and August electricity bills by ten days. While the extension applies to consumers nationwide, K-Electric, the utility responsible for electricity distribution in Karachi, was notably absent from the notification.

Qandhari emphasized that this oversight leaves Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and industrial hub with over 25 million residents and more than 3 million K-Electric consumers, without the intended relief. “It is disturbing that Karachi has been deprived of this much-needed extension,” he stated.

The President of KATI highlighted that NEPRA had confirmed overbilling by all electricity distribution companies nationwide, including K-Electric. In response to this, the Prime Minister announced the extension to ease the burden on consumers. However, the exclusion of K-Electric means that Karachi’s consumers, who were also affected by the overbilling, will not benefit from the relief measures.

Qandhari demanded that the government immediately amend the notification to include K-Electric, ensuring that Karachi’s people and industrial consumers receive the same relief as the rest of the country. He pointed out that consumers are already struggling with high electricity tariffs and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) capacity charges. “Over-billing by the DISCOs adds to this burden, making it a double injustice,” he said.

The President of KATI also remarked on the broader economic impact, noting that exorbitant electricity bills are not only straining individuals but also affecting the economy and exports due to increased production costs. He called for urgent reforms to the electricity system, advocating for providing electricity at fair and lower prices. He urged that DISCOs and IPPs be mandated to ensure uninterrupted power supply and to eliminate over-billing practices.