SHC asks govt to provide electricity to low-income households through solar energy

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday directed K-Electric to submit a report on power load-shedding in Jamshed Quarters, asking the provincial law officer to provide electricity to low-income households through solar energy.

During the hearing of a petition against frequent load-shedding in Jamshed Quarters, an SHC division bench headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar asked the KE’s counsel how much of the area is affected by load-shedding.

The court asked the petitioner what the financial status was of the people of the locality. The petitioner said that mostly people from the middle class and the low-income group are living in the area, and are the worst-affected by load-shedding.

The petitioner also said the locals have been paying their electricity bills, but despite that, they are being continuously deprived of electricity in the name of load-shedding. The court asked why load-shedding occurs in such areas where people do not have air conditioners.

The court asked the provincial law officer about the foreign funding in respect of climate change and tree planting, saying that these low-income areas should be provided electricity through solar energy.

The KE’s counsel asked the court to direct the provincial government to assist the power company in removing illegal connections from the Jamshed Quarters. The court directed KE to submit the details of load-shedding in the area on the next date of hearing.

Public libraries

In another case pertaining to the revival of public libraries, the court directed the provincial government to ensure the conversion of Allama Daudpota Library in Hyderabad and other public libraries in the province to be run on solar energy.

The court directed the local government to maintain the public libraries in each city and district municipal corporation.The court also issued a notice to the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company on a plea against load-shedding at public libraries.