Sindh to provide free electricity to consumers using up to 100 units

The government of Sindh has announced that it will provide free electricity to consumers using up to 100 units in the province. It is positive news for Sindh’s citizens who are suffering from severe load shedding and unaffordable electricity bills.

Sindh Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah revealed this plan during a press conference on May 30, 2024. He said the Sindh government will provide free electricity to consumers using up to 100 units through a network of solar parks and mini-grid stations.

Nasir Hussain said the government has set aside money for mini-grids and solar energy in the budget. The Sindh government will include PKR 5 billion for solar energy in its budget.

وزیر توانائی سندھ سید ناصر حسین شاہ کی محکمہ توانائی کے کمیٹی روم میں میڈیا کے نمائندوں سے بات چیت

اس موقع پر وزیر بلدیات سندھ سعید غنی ،وزیر اوقاف سید ریاض حسین شاہ اور دیگر شخصیات بھی موجود تھیں۔

مقامی سطح پر سولر پینلز تیار کر کے کثیر تعداد میں زرمبادلہ بچایا جا سکتا ہے۔… pic.twitter.com/FbXucUrAPG
— Sindh Information Department (@sindhinfodepart) May 30, 2024

He also revealed plans to sell solar panels at high discounts. He declared they are starting a program to provide solar panels at a discounted price. They will give middle-class and low-income families 200,000 solar panels.

According to Nasir, consumers will pay only 20% of the costs while the government will pay 80%. There are 500,000 residences in Sindh, including Karachi, which have no access to electricity.

Hence, they will build mini-grid stations and solar parks throughout Sindh, including Karachi, to provide free electricity to 100 units of consumers.

Karachi: An important initiative of Sindh Government

Sindh Govt decided to establish solar mini grid station different divisions of across the province.

5 billion will be allocated for solar solar mini grid station in the upcoming budget. Says @SyedNasirHShah pic.twitter.com/jkQsAXXbvS
— PPP Parliamentary Leaders (@PPPLeaders) May 30, 2024

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However, it is another matter of discussion how the Sindh government will provide consumers with free electricity as it has already indebted billions of rupees to the electricity-providing company, K-Electric.

K-Electric (KE) threatened to cut off electricity to offices of the Sindh government last week due to extremely high debts of billions of rupees. This threat came after non-payments from the Sindh government or Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to K-Electric since January.

These non-payment dues have put K-Electric in financial trouble and made network maintenance highly problematic. KE wrote letters to Karachi’s mayor and Sindh’s finance secretary, urging them to pay their dues quickly.