A LOT has been said and written about how to deal with loadshedding in Karachi and the rest of the country. Unfortunately almost all of these voices have fallen on deaf ears.

As far as Karachi is concerned, one expected the performance of Karachi’s power utility would improve after its privatisation and rebranding as KE from the former KESC. Sadly the service has gone from bad to worse while consumers’ monthly bill charges have increased manifold. The privatised KE continues to live on taxpayers’ money thru subsidies and subjecting the consumer to steep monthly bills and long hours of loadshedding.

Can the KE management explain why it took four days to rectify the technical faults in their Bin Qasim power plant? TV news channels repeatedly telecast tickers quoting a KE official as saying that spares had been imported and would be installed soon. Shouldn’t the KE top brass have had back-up plans ready to ensure uninterrupted supply?

There are increasing rumblings among citizens that they were better off with the KESC. The Sindh government should ensure that K-Electric comes up to the people’s expectation and provides uninterrupted power at a reasonable cost.

Engr. Riaz Akbar

Wah Cantt

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2018