- Amount of Rs430 million owed by Pakistan Railways.
- Power cut affects online ticket booking, 38 trains.
- Railways threatens to withhold K-Electric payments.
K-Electric (KE) has disconnected power to several Pakistan Railways colonies and installations due to unpaid electricity bills.
According to Karachi’s sole electricity supplier, Pakistan Railways owes Rs430 million against 31 connections. The company said that the continued power supply is unsustainable without clearing dues.
Despite multiple reminders and assurances, payments remain pending, said a spokesperson for the KE.
Divisional Superintendent (DS) Pakistan Railways Karachi, Nasir Khalili, described the dispute with KE as escalating, leading to power cuts in key installations and colonies.
The disruption has severely impacted train operations, suspending online ticket booking and affecting 38 passenger trains running from Karachi daily, he said.
Khalili highlighted that the Karachi division generates daily revenue of Rs50-60 million for the Railways.
He also claimed KE owes Railways Rs70 billion in unpaid dues over the past decade. He warned the electricity supplier of further action, including withholding bill payments, if the power issue persists.
In a statement earlier, the company had said that the KE would restore power supply on undertakings provided by railway authorities with the assurance of clearing outstanding dues and timely payment of monthly bills.
“However, despite accommodating Pakistan railways, these commitments have been dishonoured time and again,” it had said.
