Collective Punishment
KARACHI: Reprimanding K-Electric (KE) for persistent loadshedding and overbilling in Karachi, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani asserted on Saturday that the company has subjected citizens to collective punishment.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Ghani expressed frustration over the power outages, stating, “The issue of [power outages] is out of our control as KE’s policies are beyond our comprehension. You cannot punish an entire society for the actions of one person.”
Ghani emphasized the need for KE to target individual electricity thieves rather than imposing blanket power cuts. “You should identify the person who steals electricity, lodge an FIR against them, and cut their electricity supply rather than suspending power supply to the entire area,” he maintained.
He criticized the current practice where honest bill payers bear the brunt of the utility company’s losses due to electricity theft, resulting in inflated bills.
Ghani acknowledged the legal framework for tax collection by different departments but highlighted the unfairness of collective punishment. “I have never encouraged electricity theft and acknowledge that no institute can provide electricity by spending money from its own pocket. However, why should those not involved in theft endure load shedding?” he questioned.
Ghani labeled collective punishment as “inhumane” and demanded that KE provide uninterrupted power supply to those who pay their bills honestly. Drawing a parallel to water bills, he noted, “People should pay their water bill, but I cannot cut their water supply if they do not pay the bill.”
Karachi has been enduring sweltering heat in recent days, with extreme temperatures expected to continue. Amid the rising mercury, citizens are also facing unannounced power outages and prolonged periods of load shedding.
This development follows a high-level meeting held on Friday between the Sindh government and KE to address the city’s power supply and load shedding issues, according to a statement from the company.
During the meeting, it was decided to form a joint committee comprising representatives from both the Sindh government and K-Electric.
“The committee will work together to address public grievances, ensure timely bill payments, and develop strategies to minimize load shedding and ensure uninterrupted power supply in the city,” the statement added.
The creation of this committee signifies a collaborative effort to resolve the longstanding issues of power supply in Karachi, with a focus on reducing the impact on law-abiding citizens and improving the overall electricity infrastructure.
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