KARACHI: K-Electric (KE) faced backlash during a meeting of the Sindh Assembly’s Special Committee on Wednesday as its CEO, Moonis Alvi, firmly refused to reduce the duration of loadshedding in Karachi, even during the winter season. He maintained that loadshedding would continue in areas plagued by electricity theft, sparking outrage among lawmakers.
The committee, formed in September to evaluate the performance of KE, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco), and Sukkur Electric Supply Company (Sesco), is headed by PPP member Fayaz Ali Butt and includes representatives from various political parties.
During the session, tensions escalated when MQM-P MPA Amir Siddiqui and the KE CEO exchanged heated remarks, with Siddiqui later accusing KE officials of threatening him for raising public concerns. Committee Chairman Fayaz Ali Butt criticized KE’s approach, urging power companies to engage with MPAs to resolve issues collaboratively.
Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi highlighted 18-hour-long loadshedding in several parts of Karachi, accusing KE staff of colluding with electricity thieves and the generator mafia. Despite earlier assurances to curb excessive outages, unscheduled loadshedding and localized faults remain persistent, leaving many areas without power for extended periods.
Khurshidi also called on KE to synchronize loadshedding schedules with water supply timings, a request KE partially agreed to. The absence of Jamaat-i-Islami representatives from the meeting was also noted.
As frustrations grow, lawmakers warned that public unrest could escalate if these pressing issues remain unresolved.
Story by Tahir Siddiqui
