KARACHI: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (NEPRA) has imposed an amount of Rs 50 million as fine upon K-Electric directing the power utility to ensure fully secured power distribution system by April 2020.
The power regulator has also directed the utility providing electricity to Karachi to ensure third party evaluation of its power distribution system. Scores of people died by electrocution during rains in Karachi in months of July and August this year.
Moreover, power supply also suspended to several areas of the metropolis for long hours, NEPRA said in a statement.
An inquiry launched to find out reasons behind deaths of several people by electrocution during the rainy weather. The probe also inquired into if the K-Electric violated the safety rules of the power regulatory authority.
The NEPRA had earlier in an in-house investigation on the deaths in Karachi due to electrocution had concluded findings and leveled blame of most deaths on K-Electric for not making pre-rain measures for the safety and security of the citizens as exposed high-tension wires became death warrants.
NEPRA concluded that 19 of the 35 deaths were indeed caused by the power utility responsible for lighting up the biggest city of Pakistan.
NEPRA authorities also announced to act upon the findings hence dragging K-Electric to court and penalising them under the laws of the organization formed in 1997.