Electricity theft in Pakistan explained

In Karachi, a parallel power supply has been running for years as a result of electricity theft (informally known as "hooking").

Electricity shortages throughout Pakistan are a chronic issue. Street protests in Pakistan for power outages and poor grid performance are common. Despite public pressure, the government of Pakistan has failed to resolve the issue, and has been criticised for its responses to victims of electricity supply shortages.[1] [2]

Electricity theft

See main article: Electricity theft. In 2013, it was declared in the Senate of Pakistan, that Pakistan had lost Rs90 billion (equivalent to ₨ billion in) in the last 5 years to electricity theft and line losses.[3] [4] [5]

Power supply to Karachi

K-Electric is a successor to KESC which was its original name for more than 70 years. It is integrated in generation, transmission and distribution to the whole Karachi city and its surroundings. Post 1990 it was placed under WAPDA control with the company's share price at Rs.160/- in stock market. According to the Pakistan Observer, WAPDA poorly managed KESC, resulting in its later privitisation.[6]

Lack of access to power

According to estimates published in 2012-13, there were approximately 483 Katchi Abadis (informal settlements) in Karachi prior to 1990; residents of such localities do not have legal right to have civic facilities and basic living provisions such as electricity/water from government departments. According to the Chairman of Standing Committee on Urban Development of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry, this has now grown to over 4,700 settlements.[7]

Artificial reasons of theft

Difference in time of load-shedding

Many illegal ‘Kunda’ connections are overloading K-Electric's network, as well as causing financial losses. One method of getting electricity into the Kunda system is accessing a nearby area where timing of two neighborhoods are different for load shedding.[8] [9] [10]

More consumption versus higher cost

One reason for electricity theft is that, whilst usage is increasing, costs have also risen.[11] In 2009 a religious decree was issued in prohibiting theft of electricity.[12]

Anti-theft measures by Pakistan and K-Electric

In 2014 the President of Pakistan issued an ordinance defining punishments for electricity thieves, with context specific punishments.[13]

K-Electric has introduced technologies that it says will remove "Kunda system and electricity theft". This program known as the Area Bundle Cable (ABC) System, has so far been installed in Kiamari area of Karachi and there are plans for the entire city is to be covered in the future.[14] [15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Pakistan, Rusting in Its Tracks. November 14, 2015. The New York Times. May 18, 2013. Declan Walsh. natural disasters and entrenched insurgencies, abject poverty and feudal kleptocrats, and an economy near meltdown. https://web.archive.org/web/20130519182303/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/world/asia/pakistans-railroads-sum-up-nations-woes.html. May 19, 2013. live.
  2. Web site: PPI . Citizens take to streets against K-Electric . Pakistan Today . June 20, 2015 . November 15, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151223050811/http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/06/20/city/karachi/citizens-take-to-streets-against-k-electric/ . December 23, 2015 . live .
  3. Web site: Web Edition . Pakistan lost Rs90 billion in electricity theft, line losses . The News, Pakistan . March 8, 2013 . November 18, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151120101824/http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-91343-Pakistan-lost-Rs90-billion-in-electricity-theft,-line-losses- . November 20, 2015 . live .
  4. Web site: Peter Kelly-Detwiler . Electricity Theft: A Bigger Issue Than You Think . Forbes Energy . April 23, 2013 . November 16, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151120012538/http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2013/04/23/electricity-theft-a-bigger-issue-than-you-think/ . November 20, 2015 . live .
  5. Web site: David Lawrence . Sensors stop energy thieves . ABB . June 19, 2013 . November 16, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151119232208/http://www.abb-conversations.com/2013/06/sensors-stop-energy-thieves/ . November 19, 2015 . live .
  6. Web site: Salahuddin Haider . K-Electric victim of circumstances and repeated injustice . Pakistan Observer . June 25, 2015 . November 16, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151120002626/http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=267207 . November 20, 2015 . dead .
  7. Web site: Hina Mahgul Rind . Katchi Abadis house half of Karachi's population . The News International . November 15, 2012 . November 15, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151120103337/http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-3-214351-Katchi-Abadis-house-half-of-Karachis-population . November 20, 2015 . live .
  8. Web site: Kunda system a major cause of load shedding, excess billing. Daily Times, Pakistan. November 6, 2008. November 12, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120041919/http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/karachi/06-Nov-2008/kunda-system-a-major-cause-of-load-shedding-excess-billing. November 20, 2015. dead.
  9. Web site: G Area suffers due to Kunda system . The News . July 29, 2010 . November 12, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151120103334/http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=253565&Cat=4&dt=7%2F29%2F2010 . November 20, 2015 . live .
  10. Web site: 2022-03-09 . Stealing electricity . 2022-04-17 . Pakistan Today . en-US.
  11. News: Karachi Chamber criticises increase in power tariff. November 16, 2015. The News (International). August 21, 2015. Correspondant. Hot topic Business page. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120103340/http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-3-335293-Karachi-Chamber-criticises-increase-in-power-tariff. November 20, 2015. live.
  12. News: Pakistan 'fatwa' on power thieves. November 16, 2015. BBC News. July 13, 2009. Correspondent. Islamic scholars, declared the theft of electricity a sin. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120010039/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8148328.stm. November 20, 2015. live.
  13. Web site: Hadi Aziz . Pakistan approves first-ever law against electricity thefts . The Newstribe . January 1, 2014 . November 18, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151119233836/http://www.thenewstribe.com/2014/01/01/pakistan-approves-first-ever-law-against-electricity-thefts/ . November 19, 2015 . live .
  14. Web site: Staff Reporter. KESC To Introduce ABC System To Avoid Electricity Theft, Kunda System. Pakistan State Times. May 8, 2013. November 12, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120000138/http://www.pstimes.com/2013/05/08/kesc-to-introduce-abc-system-to-avoid-electricity-theft-kunda-system/. November 20, 2015. live.
  15. Web site: Replacing kunda system: Power utility starts anti-theft project in Keamar. The Express Tribune. February 2, 2011. November 12, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120041534/http://tribune.com.pk/story/112650/replacing-kunda-system-power-utility-starts-anti-theft-project-in-keamari/. November 20, 2015. live.

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