It seems that the massive death toll in Sindh was not enough to persuade the federal government of the people’s suffering. That is why it has allowed the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to inflict more burdens on the citizens of Karachi. This is tantamount to rubbing salt in their wounds. In a surprise and shocking move, NEPRA has jacked up the electricity rate in the range of Rs 2-4.8 per unit for domestic consumers of K-Electric. According to the decision, the power regulator has increased the power rates by Rs 2.09 per unit for domestic users consuming 201-300 units per month, Rs 3.67 per unit increase for those using 300-700 units per month and Rs 2.09 per unit for domestic consumers using over 700 units per month. In addition to this, the power regulator has accorded approval to increasing the power rate by Rs four per unit during peak hours and Rs 4.28 per unit in off peak hours for consumers using Time of Use electricity meters. Commercial and industrial consumers have been spared this increase. The decision was taken in the wake of the lifting of a stay order that was issued by the Sindh High Court at the request of K-Electric against the determination of a higher tariff by NEPRA in 2013. After withdrawal of the subsidy implied in the earlier tariff, K-Electric rates have now been brought at par with the national tariff being charged by other power distribution companies in the rest of the country. The timing of this decision is very awkward and the government’s policies in this regard can only be lamented. At a time when hundreds of citizens are dying due to a blistering heatwave and facing the scourge of power outages, this decision seems unjustified as well as a cruel one. The government should have waited till the normalisation of the situation after the heatwave calamity. The working of NEPRA is questionable too since it failed to regulate the affairs of K-Electric, which is responsible for the misery of Karachi’s citizens. Since the privatisation of this utility, its management has failed to bring all its affairs in order. It has failed on all fronts in managing and serving its clientele in Karachi. Instead of resorting to burdening citizens with an increased power tariff, K-Electric should focus on running its plants at full capacity instead of relying on the national grid’s 650 MW, decreasing line losses and introducing a mechanism that forces all consumers to pay their bills. The present ill-timed decision seems the result of a lack of coordination among all concerned authorities. They should have spared a thought for the poor, who will be the ultimate sufferers of this decision. *