KARACHI:
Small traders have condemned the sudden doubling of KMC utility charges in commercial electricity bills and threatened to stop paying their bills if the increase is not withdrawn.
Chairman of the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Atiq Mir said the fee was raised overnight from Rs400 per month to Rs750 without consultation, calling it “open deception.” He questioned the mayor of Karachi on what performance justified such an increase, saying it was merely a way to burden shopkeepers and artificially boost KMC’s revenue.
According to Mir, the hike will raise KMC’s monthly income from Rs220 million to Rs330 million, even though its performance continues to decline. “Markets are plagued with unresolved municipal problems — poor drainage, broken roads, uncollected garbage, filth and mud — yet traders are being charged more,” he said, demanding accountability for the money already collected.
Mir highlighted that just one day of rainfall can paralyse Karachi’s markets for a week, causing billions of rupees in losses to traders. He accused K-Electric and KMC of collusion, saying both institutions have destroyed Karachi’s business and public life. “K-Electric is sharing in this loot, taking a 7.5 per cent commission from KMC while overburdening commercial consumers,” he alleged.
The traders’ leader warned that if the fee increase is not rolled back immediately, the business community will be forced to boycott payment of K-E bills. He urged the federal government and the Army Chief to interven.