KARACHI: K-Electric has cut off electricity to Karachi’s Lines Area after unpaid dues from residents crossed Rs4 billion, the company’s spokesperson said on Monday.

According to K-Electric, the power supply was disconnected due to widespread non-payment by defaulters. The company urged residents to clear their bills immediately, warning that timely payments are crucial to reduce or end load-shedding in the area.

Electricity has been suspended in Lines Area for the past two days, prompting angry residents to protest against the prolonged outage and water shortage. Demonstrations erupted near Lines Area Parking Plaza and Shahrah-e-Qaideen, where protesters blocked traffic. Some people reportedly threw stones at a K-Electric office and set nearby trees on fire. Police later arrived to control the situation and restore order.

Meanwhile, the federal government has announced a major reform to open Pakistan’s electricity market for the first time in history. Starting January 2026, consumers using one megawatt or more of power will be able to choose their electricity supplier.

During a briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Power, Power Division Secretary Dr Fakhar Alam Irfan said that the move will promote competition and help ensure fairer electricity prices.

He acknowledged that circular debt remains one of the energy sector’s biggest challenges. Although financial losses in the power sector were Rs600 billion in 2024, the government has reduced them to Rs397 billion this year, with further cuts expected.

Dr Irfan also directed that feeders with less than 20% losses should not be shut down, warning that such actions hurt both consumers and government revenues.

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