KARACHI: Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh on Tuesday said that the monopoly of K-Electric, the lone power utility in the city, would end in 2023 and more companies would be involved to provide electricity at competitive rates.

Addressing a press conference, he said that the provincial government had planned to involve different companies on district level for provision of electricity.

“If there are more than one electricity supply companies in Karachi, better facilities would be available to the citizens due to the trend of competition,” he said, adding that having more than one company would eliminate the monopoly of one company.

Mr Shaikh said that he was also approaching the federal government to waive electricity bills of the flood-affected areas for the next three months.

He also brushed aside the reports on social media regarding the replacement of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and termed them baseless and a conspiracy, saying that it had nothing to do with the reality.

“The chief minister is our captain and we are part of his team,” he added.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan was lusting for power and still dreaming to get it.

“His [Imran Khan] words should not be given importance,” he said referring to the utterance of the former PM regarding the appointment of the army chief.

He said that the procedure of selection of army chief was there in the constitution. “Army chief cannot be appointed according to anyone’s wish,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2022