KARACHI — MQM-Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar has launched a scathing attack on the federal government, warning that the relentless surge in electricity bills has pushed the public to a breaking point.
Speaking to local media, the veteran politician didn’t mince words. He characterized the current tariff structure as an assault on the common man, stating clearly that the government has “broken the backbone” of the middle and lower classes.
“People are choosing between feeding their families and paying their utility bills,” Sattar said. He argued that the current economic trajectory is unsustainable, noting that the combination of rising fuel adjustment charges and base tariff hikes has effectively stripped citizens of their purchasing power.
For the average household in Karachi, the impact is stark. Monthly bills have doubled, and in some cases tripled, over the last few quarters. Small business owners, already struggling with inflation, are now facing the prospect of permanent closure as operating costs shift from manageable to prohibitive.
Sattar’s critique goes beyond the numbers. He pointed toward a lack of accountability within the power sector, questioning why the burden of line losses and electricity theft—often systemic issues—is passed directly to the consumer. He dismissed the government’s justifications as empty bureaucratic rhetoric that ignores the reality on the streets.
While the government maintains that these hikes are necessary to satisfy IMF conditions and prevent a broader energy sector collapse, Sattar remains unconvinced. He demanded an immediate audit of power purchase agreements, suggesting that the contracts signed with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are the root cause of the crisis.
Whether this pressure leads to any policy shift remains uncertain. For now, Sattar’s rhetoric reflects a growing political consensus that the current energy pricing model is not just a fiscal challenge, but a looming social crisis.
