KARACHI (April 29): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the Energy Department and K-Electric to jointly develop a targeted subsidy mechanism aimed at reducing electricity costs for vulnerable consumers in Karachi, while improving supply reliability in low-income areas ahead of the summer season.
The directive came during a meeting held at the Chief Minister House with K-Electric leadership, including Chairman Shahryar Chishti and CEO Syed Taha, and senior provincial officials such as PSCM Agha Wasif and Energy Secretary Shuhab Ansari.
Expressing concern over prolonged and increasing load-shedding in underprivileged localities, the chief minister stressed that the hardship faced by low-income households must be urgently addressed through practical and sustainable solutions.
“We want load-shedding to be reduced, especially in low-income areas, and a viable mechanism should be developed so that poor communities are not burdened with long outages,” he said.
The chief minister directed the formation of a dedicated committee comprising the Commissioner Karachi, Secretary Energy, and the CEO of K-Electric. The committee will prepare recommendations for a targeted subsidy framework, along with proposals to ensure uninterrupted and affordable electricity supply to disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
During the meeting, discussions also focused on long-term energy affordability. The chief minister highlighted the importance of reducing generation costs through local energy resources, particularly encouraging the use of coal from the Thar Coalfield as a potential source of cheaper electricity.
He suggested that low-cost power generated from Thar could be supplied to K-Electric for distribution to low-income areas at affordable rates, ensuring both sustainability and relief for end consumers.
Separately, the meeting also explored the possibility of structured cooperation between the Sindh government and K-Electric for supplying competitively priced electricity to industrial zones, aimed at supporting productivity and reducing operational costs.
Chairman K-Electric Shahryar Chishti assured full cooperation, stating that sustainable relief for consumers depends on the availability of low-cost power generation and efficient distribution mechanisms.
The meeting concluded with a broader review of energy sector collaboration between the Sindh government and K-Electric, focusing on affordability, continuity of supply, and protection of vulnerable consumer segments.
