KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to carry out a detailed survey of K-Electric’s operations in response to ongoing unannounced load shedding across Karachi.
The order came during the hearing of a petition filed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), highlighting prolonged and unscheduled power outages affecting large parts of the city, with some areas experiencing 12 to 18 hours of load shedding daily.
Justice Faisal Kamal Alam, who presided over the case, strongly criticized both K-Electric and NEPRA, questioning the effectiveness of their oversight and the utility company’s performance since privatization. The judge raised concerns about K-Electric’s preparedness, noting that even light rainfall leads to power disruptions lasting several hours.
The court asked NEPRA whether it had the technical expertise required to conduct a proper operational assessment of K-Electric. In response, NEPRA’s counsel stated that the authority had issued show-cause notices and levied fines, including a recent Rs. 20 million penalty. However, the court dismissed these measures as insufficient, asking what real impact the penalties had on improving power supply or public well-being.
The court also voiced dissatisfaction with NEPRA’s defense that it was limited to acting within its legal boundaries, demanding clearer accountability from both institutions.
The petition by JI pointed out that K-Electric has failed to ensure consistent electricity supply despite years of privatization, causing immense hardship for residents and commercial sectors alike.
