By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: K-Electric CEO Moonis Alvi has highlighted a potential solution to Karachi’s persistent load-shedding problem, suggesting that the city could see an end to power outages if the government takes control of 300 specific power feeders and supports efforts to recover losses in those areas. His remarks came after a session with the Sindh Assembly’s energy committee, where he presented a detailed picture of the challenges facing the city’s electricity network.
Alvi explained that around 70 percent of K-Electric’s grid is currently exempt from load-shedding, indicating that a significant portion of the system is functioning without interruptions. However, he pointed to a troubling issue affecting 150 feeders, where power losses reach up to 87 percent. These losses, he said, are mainly caused by non-payment and rampant electricity theft, problems that severely undermine the utility’s ability to maintain a stable supply.
In a candid statement following the committee meeting, Alvi revealed that he had left with the chairman’s permission but emphasized K-Electric’s readiness to collaborate with all political parties to tackle the city’s electricity woes. He stressed that the company’s strategy has shifted from imposing load-shedding at the feeder level to targeting transformer-level load-shedding. This approach, he argued, aims to distribute power more fairly among consumers and reduce the impact of outages.
Alvi also reaffirmed K-Electric’s commitment to maintaining an open dialogue with the public through regular forums, known as Khuli Kacheris, where consumers can directly raise their concerns. His message was clear: while “free electricity is not possible,” there is hope that with government backing—specifically by taking responsibility for those 300 feeders—the city could see a dramatic reduction, if not total elimination, of load-shedding.
