KARACHI: Sindh Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah has announced to provide free electricity to consumers using up to 100 units in Karachi, alleviating the financial burden on low-income households.

The initiative includes distributing 200,000 solar panels at a heavily subsidized rate, where the government will cover 80% of the cost, and consumers will only need to pay the remaining 20%.

This project is part of a broader effort to expand solar energy infrastructure in Sindh, with Rs 5 billion allocated for solar parks and mini-grid stations.

However, this promising initiative comes against a backdrop of financial instability between K-Electric and the Sindh government. K-Electric has issued warnings about potential power outages due to unpaid dues amounting to billions of rupees from government departments, including the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB).

The non-payment since January has led to significant financial challenges for K-Electric, affecting its ability to maintain the network.

In summary, while the Sindh government’s plan to subsidize solar energy and provide free electricity to low-usage consumers is a positive step, the unresolved financial issues with K-Electric pose a serious threat to the overall stability of Karachi’s power supply.

It is crucial for both the government and K-Electric to resolve these payment disputes to ensure uninterrupted power services and the successful implementation of the new solar energy initiatives.