KARACHI: Small traders across Karachi have threatened to boycott electricity bill payments after the sudden doubling of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) utility charges, which jumped from Rs400 to Rs750 per month without consultation.
Atiq Mir, Chairman of the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, denounced the increase as “daylight deception,” questioning what performance by the city administration justified such a heavy burden on shopkeepers. He argued that the move is nothing more than a scheme to inflate KMC’s revenue, projecting its monthly income to rise from Rs220 million to Rs330 million.
Despite this hike, traders say municipal services remain in shambles. “Markets are drowning in problems overflowing drains, broken roads, heaps of garbage, filth and mud yet we’re being charged more,” Mir said, demanding accountability for funds already collected.
He further pointed out that even a single day of rainfall cripples business activity for weeks, causing losses worth billions, while civic authorities fail to respond. Mir accused K-Electric of colluding with KMC by charging traders unfairly and taking a 7.5% commission, calling it a joint effort to “loot” Karachi’s business community.
The traders’ leader warned that unless the increase is withdrawn immediately, shopkeepers will boycott power bill payments. He appealed to the federal government and the Army Chief to intervene and protect Karachi’s already struggling businesses.
