National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has taken notice of unacceptable increase in cases of un-scheduled load-shedding in Karachi due to which power remained shut down for hours in several localities of the city recently.

This is the second time NEPRA has taken notice of unscheduled load shedding in Karachi but its decisions are invariably challenged by the power utility which is ready to be sold to a third party ie China's 'Shanghai Electric'. However, the federal government has not yet granted the required approvals for the sale.

According to NEPRA, several areas of Karachi were badly hit by unscheduled load-shedding. NEPRA has directed CEO (K-Electric) to rectify the prevailing situation and submit a detailed report about significant increase in load shedding in K-Electric's jurisdiction. In 2015, NEPRA had issued a show-cause notice to KE, over repeated violations of its privatisation agreement and licence conditions.

The show-cause notice was issued after the findings of a report issued by NEPRA's 5-member fact-finding committee held KE responsible for failing to supply uninterrupted electricity to its consumers. A team of NEPRA experts had accused KE of deliberately generating less electricity than what was required, resulting in a power crisis. Chairman NEPRA, Brigadier Tariq Saddozai (Retd) on a number of occasions during public hearings had directed KE to improve its system.-Business Recorder