KARACHI: The Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) President, Junaid Naqi, has issued a strong call for an end to what he describes as discriminatory treatment of Karachi's electricity consumers. He demands the immediate payment of withheld negative Fuel Cost Adjustments (FCA) and a long-overdue Rs. 33 billion incremental subsidy from the COVID-19 period.

Naqi highlighted that despite the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority's (NEPRA) determination on July 18, 2025, setting K-Electric's FCA reference rate at Rs. 15.99 per unit, Karachi's consumers have been denied negative FCA relief for May and June 2025. He emphasized that consumers in other regions received these adjustments, accusing authorities of deliberately excluding Karachi.

In 2023 and early 2024, Karachi consumers faced higher FCA rates compared to the rest of the nation, Naqi noted. He criticized the government's interference in the regulatory process, calling it institutional discrimination aimed at depriving Karachi's people of their rights.

Naqi also urged the release of the Rs. 33 billion incremental subsidy promised during the COVID period to Karachi's industries. He explained that this subsidy was meant to boost production and energy usage, and manufacturers had upheld their end of the bargain. Delayed payments, he argued, unfairly penalize industries for their trust in government policy.

Appealing to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Naqi called for immediate intervention. He warned that Karachi's economy should not suffer due to discriminatory policies and bureaucratic obstacles, while other cities benefit from the relief denied to Karachi.

Naqi cautioned that if these demands remain unmet, KATI will escalate the issue through business councils, chambers of commerce, and public platforms to seek redress.