ISLAMABAD: The Korangi Association of Trade & Industry (KATI) has urged the Minister for Power to include K-Electric’s renewable energy projects in the new ten-year Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP), based on economic merit, and to ensure equitable treatment of the utility and its consumers in national energy planning.
In a letter to Power Minister Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, KATI President Junaid Naqi expressed deep concern over the exclusion of K-Electric’s proposed renewable energy projects from the recently approved IGCEP 2025–2035, as well as the ongoing delay in fully energizing the already approved 1,000 MW interconnection between the National Grid and K-Electric.
“Karachi’s consumers are frequently criticized for receiving federal power subsidies, yet when viable solutions to reduce reliance on those subsidies—such as supplying cheaper grid power via the remaining 400 MW of the approved 1,000 MW NTDC-KE link—are available, they remain unimplemented,” Naqi said. “This delay not only restricts access to lower-cost electricity but also undermines the broader goal of equitable and least-cost power supply across regions.”
KATI emphasized that while K-Electric is often criticized for higher generation costs, its efforts to develop some of the country’s most cost-effective renewable energy projects have been disregarded. Excluding these solar initiatives from national planning sends a contradictory message to both industry and the people of Karachi, despite their substantial long-term benefits.
The Association also pointed out that the current 1,600 MW being supplied from NTDC to KE has already led to significant savings for KE consumers and the national exchequer. A timely and firm commitment to supply the remaining 400 MW would further amplify these benefits, yet no action has been taken—even as surplus generation capacity exists in the national system.
“It is equally troubling that KE is being required to construct a separate tie-line to access grid power, while its projects are excluded from the IGCEP. This two-tiered approach contradicts the principles of transparency, equity, and national interest,” Naqi stated.
Highlighting that Karachi—home to over 20 million people and a vital pillar of Pakistan’s industrial economy—is being unfairly marginalized, KATI submitted the following proposals to the Ministry:
Given that Karachi is home to over 20 million citizens and serves as the backbone of Pakistan’s industrial economy, this approach of marginalization is both unfair and economically unsound, KATI has submitted the following proposals to the Ministry ;(i) ensure immediate energization of the remaining 400 MW from the approved 1000 MW grid connection to KE; (ii) include KE’s renewable energy projects in the IGCEP based on economic merit; (iii) guarantee equitable treatment of KE and its consumers in national energy planning ; and (iv) provide a firm commitment of the full 2000 MW from NTDC to Karachi.
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