Local News

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday sought a response from the federal government and KE in a case related to the collection of General Sales Tax (GST) on electricity bills. President Anjuman-e-Tajjran Karachi, Javed Shams filed plea with the SHC against collecting GST via electricity bills. Javed Shams in his plea said collection of GST from the small traders and retailers via electricity bills is illegal. The bill with GST was also sent to the traders who consumed a single unit of electricity in the month. The traders’ body president pleaded with the court for immediate hearing of his plea as the fixed tax has been included in the bill. After the initial hearing, SHC while issuing notices to the federal government and KE sought their response. Earlier, Karachi school moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) against GST collection on electricity bill. A private school filed a plea with SHC against the school for sending an electricity bill with GST. Meanwhile, The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday sought a detailed report from K-Electric (KE) on power outages in Karachi. During a hearing on a petition against unannounced power outages and ‘kundas’ (illegal connections), the Sindh High Court (SHC) sought a detailed report from KE on loadshedding. The court asked about the action taken against ‘kundas’ (illegal connections) and electricity theft. Meanwhile, KE counsel argued that the power company has already provided details regarding illegal connections and electricity theft. The petitioner stated that he had penned down several letters to National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) about power outages. “NEPRA had directed the K-Electric to look into the matter of illegal loadshedding in Gulshan-e-Iqbal,” he added. It is pertinent to mention here that the electricity shortfall in Pakistan reached 6,500 megawatts (MW), causing power outages of four to six hours in urban cities and eight hours in rural areas.