A Big Burden For Karachiites

There is no respite for Karachiites from the increasing burden of bills. Of course, the eElectricity bill is fast becoming a big burden on the family budgets of Karachiites. It is rivaling the house rent claiming a big chunk of the total income of an average family.

Whatever reasons the government and the electricity company may advance, they cannot escape the ultimate responsibility of providing utility service to the people at an affordable price. The NEPRA is a government appointed body; all its decisions should be in line with the government policy.

The government must conduct thorough studies before allowing any change in the rates of utilities like water and power supply. People in Karachi, those who pay taxes, are charged water tax though they may not be getting sufficient water; some do not get any water at all through the line. But others who do not pay any taxes are being supplied water by the government for free by tankers. The same unjust policy is being followed in the matter of power supply. Hundreds of thousands of families are having Kunda connections and pay no money to the power company; while the paying consumers are made to pay for the Kundawallas and for all the losses and inefficiencies of the company and of the government functionaries.

Equally unjust is the slab system for electricity rates. It has little or no justification. Those who consume more electricity, like joint families, pay proportionately more taxes. Why should they be penalized by increasing the rates which are already highest in the region?

The electricity tariff in Karachi has crossed all limits; it has become so exorbitant that the government should take immediate measures to bring it down. If the cost of production and the T&D losses cannot be brought down, then the government should reduce its taxes on electricity bills to bring it within reasonable limits so that people can pay it easily.