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In a move to make Karachi load shedding free, K-Electric – city’s main electricity provider – has asked the federal government to take control of 300 high-loss electricity feeders.
Monis Alvi, the chief executive officer (CEO) of K-Electric, during a media briefing, stated that these feeders in Karachi are responsible for 87 percent of distribution losses across the metropolis.
He said Karachi could be nearly load-shedding free if the government manages these specific feeders, out of 2,129 across the city. Most of these areas have over 70 percent power loss due to low revenue recovery.
“If the government takes control of these 300 feeders – out of 2,129 in total, we would be very close to making Karachi load-shedding free,” Alvi stated.
K-Electric made the request to the government after facing strong criticism from lawmakers in the National and Sindh Assemblies over long power outages during a recent heatwave in Karachi.
Alvi said the company will continue supplying electricity to these feeders if the government ensures a sustainable payment recovery system.
According to K-Electric, currently, 70 percent of Karachi is exempt from load-shedding. With full support from the government, KE believes this figure could rise to 90 percent by 2030.
He also clarified that a new Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) policy for 2024–2030 will not raise consumer prices due to Pakistan’s uniform tariff rule, but it marks a major step in KE’s future investment plan.
The CEO emphasized that the MYT decision is a milestone for K-Electric’s investment vision for 2030, which includes upgrading transmission and distribution infrastructure, cutting line losses, and improving customer engagement.
With electricity demand in Karachi on the rise, driven by growing economic activity, K-Electric plans to increase its supply capacity from 4,500 MW to 5,000 MW by 2030. The company also expects its consumer base to expand to 5 million over the same period.
He reiterated K-Electric’s commitment to connecting captive power industries to the national grid, aligning with the government’s transition timeline. Coordination with stakeholders is underway to ensure a smooth and efficient process.
