KARACHI: In a significant move to provide relief to the citizens of Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has initiated a plan for a targeted subsidy program and the provision of affordable electricity for the city’s low-income segments. The decision came during a high-level meeting held at CM House, attended by K-Electric (KE) Chairman Shahryar Chishti, CEO Syed Moonis Abdullah Alvi, the Principal Secretary, the Energy Secretary, and other key officials.
Relief from Load-shedding and Thar Coal Integration Expressing concern over the rising temperatures, CM Murad Ali Shah emphasized that the city’s poor are the hardest hit by prolonged power outages. He urged KE to find immediate solutions to minimize load-shedding in underprivileged neighborhoods. The Chief Minister proposed utilizing Thar Coal to generate cheaper electricity, which would be supplied to K-Electric on the condition that the benefit be passed directly to residents of poor areas through uninterrupted and subsidized supply.
Industrial Support and Strategic Partnership The Sindh government is also drafting a partnership plan with K-Electric to provide electricity at competitive rates to industrial zones to boost economic activity. Chairman KE, Shahryar Chishti, assured the provincial government of full cooperation, noting that shifting to cheaper energy sources is inevitable for long-term sustainability.
Formation of High-Level Committee To streamline these initiatives, the CM has constituted a special committee comprising Commissioner Karachi, Secretary Energy, and CEO K-Electric. The Chief Minister has directed the Energy Department and the committee to conduct a detailed study on the targeted subsidy model and submit proposals to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive immediate relief in their monthly bills.
“We want a solution where the poor do not have to suffer from darkness. By leveraging our local coal resources, we can provide K-Electric with cheap power, provided they ensure it reaches the needy at lower rates.” – Syed Murad Ali Shah, CM Sindh.
