After signing agreements with the Karachi Electric (KE) and the Indus Motor Company (IMC), there has been a continuous increase in electricity prices, with the cost of electricity now reaching up to around 52 Pakistani rupees per unit. In August, consumers faced an additional burden of up to 15 rupees per unit. According to reports, along with the rise in petrol prices, there has been a persistent increase in electricity rates. Through a fuel price adjustment mechanism, the public is now burdened with electricity costs of up to 52 rupees per unit. In August, consumers were burdened with an additional cost of up to 15 rupees per unit in their electricity bills.
On July 1st, the electricity price per unit was increased by a staggering 7.5 rupees, though the complete recovery was not realized. Subsequently, in August, consumers were subjected to a two-month adjustment in their bills. A fuel price adjustment of 1.81 rupees per unit is also being considered. The fractional electricity surcharge tax has been completely fulfilled. Overall, a hefty burden of 1.45 trillion rupees has been transferred onto electricity consumers in a span of one year.
On the other side, the Karachi Municipal Corporation is also grappling with electricity bills. In an effort to save 100 million rupees monthly, the Karachi Municipal Corporation has devised a new plan. The corporation has decided to install solar street lights on 106 major roads across the city. The monthly bill for these street lights on Karachi’s central 106 roads amounts to a staggering 150 million rupees.
This situation highlights the escalating challenges that the citizens of Karachi are facing due to rising electricity prices and the subsequent economic strain. The continuous surge in electricity costs, coupled with increasing fuel prices, has put a substantial burden on the public. The city’s municipal authorities are also under pressure to find cost-effective solutions, such as the installation of solar street lights, to alleviate the financial strain on both the citizens and the municipality.
