Rs6 per unit power tariff hike in offing for KE consumers.

KARACHI -- Inflation-hit consumers of Karachi-Electric (KE) should prepare themselves for higher billing as the power tariff is likely to be jacked up by Rs6 per unit.

The federal government has sought the increase from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) in the context of two quarterly fuel cost adjustments (FCA).

The federal government has filed an application with NEPRA and the power regulator will hear it on April 3.

If approved, the amount will be collected from the consumers from the period of April to June 2023.

However, an increase in power tariff will add to the woes of the millions of Pakistanis toiling to put food on the table amid a deepening cost of living crisis that has hit the country of 220 million people.

As the cash-strapped nation lurches from one crisis to another, citizens have continuously been taking to the streets to protest a dual economic and political meltdown with little precedent in the nation's post-independence history.

Inflation is at a 48-year high. Foreign currency reserves cover less than a month of imports. The bill for billions in damage from last year's devastating floods continues to sting, highlighting the financial consequences of a warming planet.

Moreover, the forecast for intense heatwaves has also left consumers worried about the availability of electricity as Pakistan faces a shortfall during the summer season which leads to prolonged load shedding across the country.

It should also be noted that earlier this month, the NEPRA allowed power distribution companies (Discos) and K-Electric to recover deferred...