NEPRA and K-Electric representatives grilled over power outages

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly's special committee held a grilling session on Wednesday, questioning representatives from HESCO, SEPCO, K-Electric, and NEPRA regarding the extended power outages. The committee members were unhappy with the explanations provided by the companies and threatened legal action if they did not improve the electricity supply.

Tensions rose during the meeting as representatives struggled to satisfy the committee's questions about load shedding and other issues. K-Electric representatives were eventually asked to leave the meeting due to their unsatisfactory responses. The meeting, chaired by Fayaz Butt, followed a resolution concerning load shedding. Several opposition leaders, including Ali Khurshidi, Saleem Baloch, and Shabbir Qureshi, attended the meeting.

Butt stated that action would be taken against power distribution companies if they failed to ensure electricity supply. He also expressed dissatisfaction with NEPRA officials and questioned the cancellation of power distribution company licenses. Saadia Javed asked what actions could be taken if the committee's decisions were not followed.

Committee Secretary Syed Hasan Shah reminded the committee of the potential imprisonment for up to six months if its privilege was breached. Yousuf Baloch raised a complaint about a meter installed in his name six years before his birth. Saleem Baloch emphasized that the closure of feeders and PMTs should not be tolerated and that K-Electric representatives had wasted valuable time.

K-Electric's head of distribution apologized on behalf of the CEO, stating that no one present had the authority of the chief executive. Fayaz Butt, dissatisfied with the responses, directed the K-Electric representatives to leave the meeting. After the meeting, Butt announced that the assembly had passed a resolution in 2024, leading to the formation of the special committee.

He criticized K-Electric for failing to provide satisfactory answers and warned of potential arrests under the Privilege Act. Opposition leader Ali Khurshidi accused power distribution companies of operating like a "mafia" and demanded improvements in their performance. He also criticized K-Electric's general managers for acting like local strongmen.