RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Friday staged a sit-in outside the K-Electric’s head office to register their protest against prolonged power outages, excessive billing and alleged harassment of the consumers by the utility.

Hundreds of protesters including women and children participate in the JI protest. Many of them were carrying banners inscribed with the slogans against the K-Electric.

The sit-in began at noon and continued till the filing of this report at night.

Protestors also established a complaint cell inviting the consumers to submit their complaints against the power utility.

“Karachiites suffer heavily due to unbearable negative and deleterious tactics of the KE administration and owners who have been earning billions of rupees in profit,” said Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, chief of JI Karachi chapter, speaking at the sit-in. He has become a party in the NEPRA’s hearing against the K-Electric.

Naeem alleged that KE administration and owners remain unwilling to shoulder their responsibility to supply uninterrupted electricity to the consumers.

He lashed out at the ruling parties at the Centre and in Sindh province accusing them of colluding with the corrupt management of the K-Electric due to which consumers suffer protracted load-shedding and have to pay more than their consumption of the electricity. The JI official said the KE’s line losses remain at previous level and its production has not been increased, so far, but its profit has soared in multiple folds. He said that KE has been charging hefty amounts illegally.

The KE spokesman denied the charges saying that billing was being done in accordance with the regulatory process and guidelines. He said that the KE’s utility bills are generated as per consumers’ metre reading. He cited that previous allegations regarding the billing had already been reviewed and refuted by the concerned authorities.

“K-Electric remains committed to its vision statement of Energizing Karachi by serving over 25 million people of Karachi and its adjoining areas,” he said, adding that the Government has implemented a ‘Uniform Tariff Policy’ across Pakistan, including Karachi and the slabs of electricity are also implemented across the country. He said no change has been made in the tariff.

He said that through sustained investment of US $1.2bn since 2009 in its infrastructure, network and services, the K-Electric has enhanced its reliability of power supply to its customers.

“Overloading in kunda-infested areas and electricity theft are two major reasons for faults and tripping. Aerial Bundle Cable is kunda-resistant system and help curb electricity theft enhancing the reliability of electricity supply,” he said.