Karachi’s electricity consumers are anxiously awaiting NEPRA’s decision on K-Electric’s staggering Rs 84 billion write-off claim—an amount that senior journalists and analysts warn must not be passed onto the city’s responsible, bill-paying citizens.
In the latest episode of their joint podcast, seasoned media professionals Sohail Iqbal Bhatti and Syed Khalid Mustafa strongly opposed any move to transfer this financial burden to honest consumers. They argued that penalizing those who consistently pay their bills would be grossly unjust.
Mr. Bhatti revealed that K-Electric’s original write-off claim of Rs 76 billion ballooned to Rs 84 billion over time, as the company persistently lobbied for these losses to either be absorbed into consumer tariffs or subsidized by the government. He pointed out that K-Electric remains the only DISCO in Pakistan to formally push such a claim, exploiting its influence to secure a public hearing from NEPRA.
The claims pertain to unpaid bills dating back to 2017—defaults K-Electric failed to recover. Under NEPRA’s rules, any write-off request must include complete biodata and detailed documentation of defaulters, a standard most DISCOs could not meet. Yet, leveraging its political connections, K-Electric advanced its case.
Adding to the discussion, Mr. Mustafa highlighted that after K-Electric’s privatization, many parts of Karachi became “no-go areas” where meter reading and bill collection were impossible. He also noted a psychological shift among consumers, suggesting they feel less compelled to pay private utilities compared to government-run entities.
Crucially, Mr. Bhatti emphasized that these claims focus solely on post-2017 defaults, excluding older outstanding dues. Calling the idea of burdening paying customers “highly unethical,” he urged NEPRA to safeguard Karachi’s middle- and lower-income households.
“Why should loyal consumers be forced to pay for the negligence of others?” Bhatti asked, reinforcing the principle of fairness that NEPRA must uphold.
The podcast also touched upon the resignation of NEPRA’s Balochistan member, with Mr. Mustafa suggesting that dissatisfaction from the provincial government may have prompted the move.
As NEPRA prepares to deliver its verdict, Karachi’s law-abiding citizens watch closely, hoping the regulator will protect them from an unjust financial blow.
