Civil society, labour leaders and workers’ rights groups organised a press conference at Karachi Press Club on June 7, 2024, against Karachi Electric (KE) over billing and prolonged power outages in workers’ colonies. The speakers expressed deep concern over extended power outages, rising electricity bills, and the lack of transparency in KE’s operations.
They demanded that the KE be placed under the direct control of the city government to ensure public accountability and effective oversight.
The event brought together prominent labour activists, including Nasir Mansoor of the National Trade Unions Federation (NTUF), Abbas Haider of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), Liaqat Sahi of the Democratic Workers Union of the State Bank of Pakistan, Zehra Khan of the Home-based Women Workers Federation, and Zeenia Shaukat of The Knowledge Forum.
The speakers highlighted how, during the recent heatwave, many areas of Karachi have been subjected to both scheduled and unscheduled load shedding lasting up to 16 hours a day, severely disrupting daily life in the country’s economic hub.
The labour leaders criticised KE for its continued reliance on costly and polluting fossil fuels while failing to meaningfully expand renewable energy sources.
Since its privatisation in 2005, KE has added 2,132 megawatts of capacity to its system, with over 95 per cent of this expansion based on fuels such as residual fuel oil, high-speed diesel, and re-gasified liquefied natural gas. In contrast, only 100 megawatts of solar power have been introduced, and that too through independent power producers.
Speakers urged the federal and provincial governments to prioritise the integration of least-cost renewable energy projects such as wind and solar while halting environmentally hazardous coal power developments.
Rising electricity bills have compounded the suffering of working-class families, with KE imposing new taxes and surcharges regularly. The labour leaders rejected KE’s narrative that load shedding is confined to areas with high electricity theft or unpaid bills, stating that even consistent bill payers are subjected to long outages.
KE’s claim that residents collectively owe Rs. 70 billion was denounced as baseless, with leaders pointing out that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has twice dismissed such assertions due to a lack of credible data.
Areas populated by workers, including Orangi, Korangi, Malir, Keamari, Quaidabad, and Lyari, are among the worst affected, with blackouts lasting more than 14 hours a day. Middle-class neighbourhoods such as Nazimabad, New Karachi, and FB Area also face prolonged disruptions.
The power shortages have sparked frequent street protests and traffic blockades, reflecting the growing frustration of citizens who lack any official platform to voice their grievances.
The speakers concluded that KE’s privatisation has failed to improve services, arguing that the company has prioritised profits over public welfare. They demanded immediate steps to bring KE under local government control and develop a sustainable energy strategy that meets the needs of Karachi’s working population while addressing environmental concerns.
