SHC moved against privatisation of KE, increase in tariffs

A petition has been filed in the Sindh High Court on Monday against the privatisation of K-Electric (KE) and the recent increase of Rs4.9 per unit in electricity charges by the power utility.

Petitioner Syed Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi submitted in the petition that the KE had been privatised in November 2005 and since then citizens had been suffering due to power outages and low voltage in different parts of the city.

He submitted that the KE had failed to improve the electric supply system in the metropolitan city and had not improved its power capacity to meet the requirements. He alleged that the KE had failed to make any investment as promised at the time of its privatisation to upgrade power stations and transmission lines and improve the power supply system in the city, despite billion of rupees had been obtained from citizens in the name of fuel adjustment and other charges.

He submitted that the KE did not fulfil the agreement with regard to increase the power capacity and upgradation of the power supply network. The petitioner requested the court to order inquiry into the privatization of the power utility and pass an order against non-fulfilment of several conditions with regard to privatization agreement.

He also questioned the increase of Rs.4.9 per unit power tariff by the KE and requested the court to stay the implementation on the increase in power tariff till a decision on the petition.