The President of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Muhammad Ikram Rajput, today acknowledged the Sindh cabinet’s approval of the Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority (SEPRA), which was formed under the Sindh Regulation of Electric Power Services Act, 2023.
According to information today, the Sindh government has established a new provincial power regulator, a move industry leaders believe is a pivotal step towards providing affordable and reliable electricity to boost industrial competitiveness, exports, and employment across the province.
Rajput described the initiative as a historic and strategic measure that will strengthen provincial autonomy in the electricity sector while creating new opportunities for industrial expansion. He recognised the efforts of CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah and Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah in its formation.
He also noted the appointments of Rafique Ahmed Sheikh as chairman, alongside Nand Lal P. Sharma as Member Technical and Development, Irtafa ur Rehman as Member Legal and Corporate, and Muhammad Hanif Idris as Member Finance and Policy. The KATI president expressed confidence that the new leadership would ensure transparent and forward-looking regulation.
The KATI chief highlighted that with an empowered provincial regulator, Sindh could better leverage its abundant low-cost energy resources, including extensive wind corridors, significant solar potential, and local coal reserves, to accelerate economic growth.
He stated that Karachi, the backbone of the national economy, stands to benefit substantially from an effective regulatory framework aligned with provincial requirements, stressing that dependable electricity is critical for industrial output and job creation.
The Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company was also identified as a key organisation for transmitting electricity across the province at competitive rates. Strengthening this infrastructure would help deliver low-cost power efficiently to industrial centres.
Rajput proposed that a subsequent phase should include the establishment of dedicated industrial energy zones with a consumption capacity between 3,000 and 5,000 megawatts. He argued such zones would attract investment, stimulate manufacturing, and generate large-scale employment.
He concluded that aligning energy planning with industrial corridor expansion is both timely and economically prudent, affirming that KATI would extend full cooperation to the Sindh government and SEPRA to achieve sustainable and growth-oriented energy solutions.