Latest news with #Rs50
Express Tribune
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PA unites against NEPRA's Rs50b surcharge
The Sindh Assembly session was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Panel of Chairperson Nida Khuhro. At the beginning of the session, Fateha was offered for the martyrs of the military who were victims of terrorism in Balochistan and the martyred Palestinians in Gaza, while prayers were also offered for the security and prosperity of the country. During the session, a joint resolution submitted by MQM-P's Aamir Siddiqui, PPP's Heer Soho, and PTI's Shabbir Qureshi was unanimously passed, opposing the Rs50 billion surcharge imposed on Karachi's electricity consumers by NEPRA. The resolution sparked a detailed discussion, with both treasury and opposition members severely criticizing the inefficiency of power distribution companies including K-Electric, HESCO and SEPCO, citing prolonged load shedding and unjustified billing. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that resolutions have been presented against K-Electric, HESCO, and SEPCO in every session of the assembly, but unfortunately, the authorities of the concerned institutions do not even pay heed to them. Addressing the Sindh Assembly session, Sharjeel Memon said that the Sindh government has initiated the provision of solar systems for citizens living in extreme temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius. However, he emphasized that this is not a permanent solution. A long-term and sustainable resolution to the electricity crisis must be found, as this country belongs to all of us. Sharjeel suggested that electricity distribution companies should introduce a prepaid metering system, as it would not only help address consumer complaints but also curb issues such as electricity theft. He emphasized that institutions like K-Electric, HESCO, and SEPCO must adopt an effective mechanism that enables electricity to be provided to consumers on an individual basis. Sharjeel Inam Memon said that once everyone has a prepaid connection, there will be no room for complaints. Opposition Leader Ali Khursheedi stressed the importance of implementing Assembly resolutions, warning that ignoring them undermines the legislature's authority. He called on the federal government and NEPRA to reverse the financial burden placed on the people of Karachi and Sindh. MQM's Aamir Siddiqui denounced NEPRA's July 18 decision as unjust, arguing that industries were relocating to other provinces, and K-Electric was using the pretext of electricity theft to unfairly extract billions from the public. PTI's Shabbir Qureshi proposed raising the base consumption slab for electricity from 200 to 300 units to protect low-income households from excessive charges. PPP lawmakers Heer Soho and Asif Musa also criticized the current policy, highlighting that even a single unit above the threshold triggers steep billing, placing unbearable pressure on poor citizens. PPP MPA Jameel Soomro likened electricity companies to the "East India Company," highlighting the disparity in service between cities like Larkana, suffering 18-hour outages, and cities like Lahore, which enjoy better electricity supply. Khuram Soomro lamented that electricity company officials ignored the Assembly's summons, demanding legislative action against K-Electric and WAPDA for disrespecting the house. MQM's Najam Mirza accused NEPRA of economically exploiting Sindh's urban population, while PTI's Muhammad Owais proposed a law requiring FIRs to be registered against K-Electric managers for exceeding 10 hours of load shedding, which he deemed illegal. After extensive discussion, the resolution was passed unanimously. The session was then adjourned until Friday at 3 PM.
Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Karachi's electricity consumers: Sindh PA rejects Rs50bn extra burden
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a joint resolution rejecting NEPRA's decision to burden Karachi's electricity consumers with an additional Rs50 billion through inflated bills. The resolution, jointly tabled by Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Aamir Siddiqui, Pakistan Peoples Party's Heer Ismail Soho, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Shabbir Qureshi, drew rare consensus from both the treasury and opposition benches. During the heated debate that preceded the vote, lawmakers from across party lines slammed power distribution companies—K-Electric, HESCO, and SEPCO—for prolonged load shedding, overbilling, and poor service delivery in Sindh. The criticism came amid soaring temperatures and mounting public frustration over unrelenting outages and unaffordable electricity bills. Sindh Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, said that despite repeated resolutions against power companies over multiple assembly sessions, the authorities have shown no willingness to address public grievances. He revealed that the provincial government had started distributing solar systems to residents enduring extreme heat, but acknowledged it was a temporary measure. A sustainable and long-term solution to the energy crisis, he stressed, was essential. Proposing a way forward, Sharjeel Inam Memon called for the immediate introduction of prepaid electricity meters to curb theft and resolve billing disputes. He said electricity companies must either adopt this mechanism or end the collective punishment of entire neighborhoods due to the non-payment or illegal connections by a few. According to him, a prepaid system would ensure fair and individual accountability, eliminating the need for blanket penalties. He urged the federal government and NEPRA to act justly, asserting that paying consumers must not suffer for the misdeeds of defaulters or the inefficiencies of power companies. Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi echoed these sentiments, stating the resolution reflected the will of the province's largest elected forum and should be respected by federal authorities. He warned that ignoring the voice of the assembly would undermine the very purpose of parliamentary representation. Condemning the hike as unjust and exploitative, he accused K-Electric of extorting the people of Karachi under the guise of billing adjustments and demanded that the decision be reversed. Presenting the resolution, Aamir Siddiqui of MQM said NEPRA's July 18 directive was tantamount to economic sabotage against Karachi's industrial base. He warned that factories were already relocating to other provinces and alleged that the Rs50 billion surcharge was a cover for K-Electric's own inefficiencies. He insisted there was no constitutional basis for collective punishment and criticized NEPRA for issuing the order without public consultation. PTI's Shabbir Qureshi called for raising the 200-unit threshold for residential consumers to 300 units, arguing that the current billing slabs unfairly penalize the poor. Asif Musa of PPP supported the proposal, pointing out that a single-unit increase beyond the 200-unit mark could push household bills to Rs10,000, a cost far beyond the reach of low-income families. PPP's Heer Soho highlighted the uncontrolled load shedding in interior Sindh, saying most areas only receive electricity for two hours at a time. Jamil Soomro likened power companies to the East India Company, accusing them of arbitrary behavior. He pointed out that in cities like Larkana, power outages last up to 18 hours, compelling citizens to turn to solar alternatives. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
K-Electric tariff increase
Listen to article In a deeply troubling move that has rightly sparked political outrage across party lines, Nepra has approved K-Electric's multi-year tariff that allows the utility to recover a staggering Rs50 billion in write-off losses from consumers. This decision, which effectively permits K-Electric to pass on the cost of unpaid bills and inefficiencies to its paying customers, raises serious questions about the priorities and regulatory philosophy of Nepra. That both the treasury and opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly stood united in condemning the move is telling. Rarely do provincial legislators find common ground on economic matters, but in this instance, the sheer injustice of the decision appears to have bridged political divides. It is not difficult to see why. In a city already reeling from record inflation and inconsistent electricity supply, saddling ordinary citizens with the burden of corporate write-offs amounts to little more than injustice. The justification, ostensibly, lies in ensuring K-Electric's financial viability and long-term service delivery. Yet this line of reasoning is difficult to defend when viewed against the company's consistent failure to control transmission losses, curb theft and improve recovery. That a private, profit-making entity can recover its losses from a captive consumer base — without showing commensurate accountability or performance — is emblematic of the regulatory capture and policy drift that plague Pakistan's energy sector. More broadly, the decision sets a dangerous precedent. If utilities are allowed to routinely offload their losses like this, there remains little incentive for reform or efficiency. Nepra must revisit its decision and hold K-Electric to higher standards of transparency and fiscal responsibility. The answer to chronic power sector woes cannot lie in continuously penalising the consumer.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Over 3,800 Await Rs120cr Loan Disbursal from Centre's Maulana Azad Eco Devpt Corp
N agpur: A total of 3,822 applications for education and business loans under the Maulana Azad Economic Development Corporation, Maharashtra, have been pending for months now. The applicants were informed that all the 3,822 loan applications had been approved by the Board of Directors. However, the Rs120 crore disbursement is pending as the Centre has not released its share, while the state is short of funds. Ansar Ali, convenor of BJP's Amravati Lok Sabha constituency and a representative of the Pasmanda community, wrote to Union minister for minority affairs Kiran Rijiju and minister of state George Kurian in this regard. "Some applicants received some amounts, but most haven't got anything so far. The applications started soon after the Mahayuti govt came to power in November last year," he said. As per the format, applicants have to mortgage their properties and submit documents to avail of the loan. However, with the disbursal pending, the applicants are unable to seek loans from elsewhere too, as original documents are stuck. "Objections have been raised regarding the holding back of the 7/12 extract and property card of the applicants. As a result, these applicants are unable to secure any other loans from banks, which has caused significant distress among them. Furthermore, this has led to considerable dissatisfaction within the Muslim community towards the govt," he said. Ali said after the chief minister, the minister for minority affairs, and the minister of state were informed, it was directed through a letter dated July 15, 2025, issued by the Maulana Azad Economic Development Corporation, Mumbai, that all district managers should instruct applicants to visit their respective district offices and submit a request to seek an NOC for applying to other banks. Congress Minority Cell Seeks MP Funds for Indoor Stadium in Mominpura Nagpur: During the visit of Imran Pratapgarhi, chairman of the All India Congress Minority Department, and Rajya Sabha MP, a delegation from the Maharashtra Pradesh Minority Department led by Atiq Qureshi (general secretary, Maharashtra Pradesh Minority Department), Irshad Ali (general secretary, Maharashtra Pradesh Minority Department), and Haji Mohammad Sameer, met him. The delegation submitted a memorandum requesting Rs50 lakh from the MP's development fund for various projects in Central Nagpur, particularly for the construction of an indoor stadium in Mominpura, Ward No. 8, and other development works. Pratapgarhi listened to their demands with seriousness and assured to provide funds for the development projects. On this occasion, MLA Sajid Pathan, former MLA and chairman of Maharashtra Pradesh Minority Department Wajahat Mirza, Owais Qadri, Waseem Khan (president, Minority Department), Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Javed Shanu, Mohammad Zaid Qureshi, Zikwan Hasrat Qureshi, and a large number of Congress workers were present.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Permission to KE to recover Rs50bn: Sindh PA speaks in unison against Nepra
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday witnessed strong cross-party consensus against Nepra's recent decision allowing K-Electric to recover Rs50 billion from Karachi residents through electricity bills. The move sparked protests from both the treasury and opposition benches, as lawmakers argued that the decision amounted to 'collective punishment' for power theft committed by a few. The issue was raised through a resolution presented by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker Muhammad Aamir Siddiqui, who told the House, 'Nepra decided on July 18 that K-Electric would recover Rs50 billion from the public. This is unjust. Nepra has no right to penalize an entire area for the fault of one individual.' K-Electric write-offs: NEPRA allows Rs50 billion as 'full and final claim' Aamir Siddiqui said the failure of K-Electric to collect dues or curb theft was now being blamed on honest bill payers. 'They failed to stop electricity theft and couldn't collect the dues, but now they want to punish those who do pay. We wrote to Nepra, but instead of corrective action, they passed an illegal order. It must be withdrawn. This additional burden will start appearing in August bills,' he said. Senior Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon supported the resolution, saying, 'This isn't just K-Electric. The same issue exists with HESCO and SEPCO. These companies punish people collectively, which is unconstitutional. When one person makes a mistake, the whole city is punished. In rural areas, one meter serves an entire village.' He recalled that he had filed a petition in the high court five years ago against such practices, which is still pending. 'Our responsibility is to protect the human rights of our people. We support this resolution fully,' Memon said. Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar said, 'This matter will be debated in detail tomorrow.' Acting Speaker Anthony Naveed gave his ruling that discussion on the resolution would be held on Tuesday. The Assembly was then adjourned until 1:30 pm the next day. Earlier during the session, the Sindh Control of Narcotics (Amendment) Bill was passed. Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar presented the bill, explaining that a new narcotics control department had been established in 2024 and that several related matters had reached the courts. 'Each district now has a designated narcotics judge. Earlier, such cases were handled by session or additional session judges. After this amendment, police will be empowered to handle narcotics cases under the new law,' he said. Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar added that independent courts would now be set up for these cases and that legislative loopholes had been addressed through the latest amendments. The Assembly rejected a call-attention notice moved by Aamir Siddiqui regarding an additional toll tax being collected between Karachi and Bahria Town. 'Citizens are paying Rs240 just to travel to and from Bahria Town. The federal government is collecting this toll, and it should be stopped,' Siddiqui urged. Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar opposed the motion, and Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed advised the member to bring a resolution instead. 'If you table a resolution, we will pass it and send it to the federal government,' he said. Meanwhile, during the question hour related to the Planning and Development Department, Parliamentary Secretary Sadia Javed responded to various queries from lawmakers. She provided updates on development schemes across the province and answered questions about the pace of ongoing projects. Responding to another call-attention notice raised by MQM's Shariq Jamal regarding rising crime in Model Colony, Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar assured the House that maintaining public safety was the government's responsibility. 'We are trying to bring down crime rates. Despite criticism on social media, we have engaged with the community and business leaders to improve the situation,' he said. He added that reforms in traffic laws and policing were underway. 'We want citizens to feel safe when they visit a police station. We will also establish a model police station in Model Colony,' Lanjar announced. Later, in response to a notice by MQM's Rashid Khan concerning the closure of classes at Government College Kali Mori in Hyderabad, Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah said, 'This college is of historical significance. It was established in 1917. In 2018, the Assembly passed an act that the college would be upgraded to university level.' He clarified that although the college had been separated from the Colleges Department, it continued to function. 'There's a misconception on social media that the college is being shut down. That is not true. The act clearly states that the college will be managed by the university,' he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
