KARACHI: The Minister of Power, Planning, and Development in Sindh, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, has vowed to take decisive action against prolonged electricity outages for entire areas over a small number of unpaid bills.
Addressing a gathering at a local hotel in Karachi on Monday, Shah denounced the practice of launching prolonged multiple power outages in the entire neighborhood due to the negligence of a few non-paying consumers, labeling it as exploitation of those diligently meeting their monthly billing obligations.
Expressing the government’s concern over mounting consumer grievances, including issues of over-billing, unannounced power outages, and arbitrary disconnections by electricity distribution companies in the province, Shah assured swift intervention to address these concerns. “We are committed to resolving these issues promptly,” he affirmed.
Shah underscored the vision of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, stating that Sindh’s energy department is formulating a comprehensive strategy to address consumer complaints and will take decisive action. Highlighting the significance of alternative energy sources, Shah stated that Sindh possesses vast resources of renewable energy, and the power department is actively pursuing measures to harness these natural resources effectively.
The persistence of prolonged power outages despite hefty electricity bills remains a primary concern for consumers nationwide, particularly in Sindh province. Last month, The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) revealed that exorbitant electricity tariffs significantly contributed to a dismal economic growth rate of merely 0.29% in the financial year 2022-23.
