The Knowledge Forum

31/08/2026

31/08/2026

K E loadshedding and karachi people frustration,

[nepra, sepra, sindh govt , energy , pakistan]

29/08/2026

Lyari citizen expressing her remarks on loadshedding
[NEPRA, SEPRA, energy, renewable energy, governance, sindh government, govt of Pakistan]

28/08/2026

Karachi Civil Society Demands End to Excessive Load-Shedding

Karachi, 28 August 2026: Civil society representatives, trade unions, journalists and community activists called for an immediate end to excessive and unannounced load-shedding across Karachi, particularly in low-income and working-class communities.

Speaking at a press conference under the Civil Society Collective for Clean Energy for Karachi, participants highlighted the impact of prolonged outages on livelihoods, water access, education, health and household finances.

Tahir Hassan Khan (KUJ) questioned the benefits of privatisation, saying ordinary citizens face major difficulties in taking complaints against KE to regulatory institutions. Abbas Haider (PILER) highlighted the impact on informal workers, including declining health, rest and workplace safety, while Qazi Khizr (HRCP) pointed to disruptions in water supply and children’s education.

Najma Maheshwari, a social activist from Lyari, highlighted the additional burden on women managing households amid electricity and water shortages. Mohammad Sachal Wadho (Bahar Foundation) said prolonged outages are making it increasingly difficult for traders in peripheral areas to earn a livelihood.

Zeenia Shaukat (The Knowledge Forum) called for greater focus on customer rights and utility accountability, asking: “Who is accountable for the electricity system and for protecting customers?”

The Collective demanded immediate action against KE, the handover of the company to a provincial regulator, and affordable clean electricity to address energy poverty, electricity theft, heat vulnerability and customer insecurity.

It also called on the government to enable community-scale solar + storage in high-density and low-income neighbourhoods, create mechanisms for apartment residents and tenants to participate in distributed generation, and introduce reforms enabling peer-to-peer electricity sharing and aggregation within the existing regulatory framework. Tahir Hasan Khan Karachi Press Club Zeenia Shaukat

19/08/2026

“The current wave of solarisation is also affordable by higher-income groups. This means that the low-income group is neither able to afford grid electricity, nor can they pay for solarisation which is expensive.” — Basil Andrews

On 29 July 2026, The Knowledge Forum (TKF), in collaboration with the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), convened Pakistan’s Energy Security: The Reality for Working People at the Karachi Press Club.

During the discussion, Basil Andrews, Climate and Energy Policy Expert at TKF, highlighted how Pakistan’s energy planning remains heavily grid-focused, leaving low-income households caught between unaffordable electricity bills and the high upfront cost of solarisation.

He also highlighted the particular challenges in Karachi, where vertical development limits rooftop access and makes household solarisation even more difficult.

The discussion underscored the need to ensure that the transition to clean energy is not only about expanding solar power, but also about making affordable, reliable and climate-resilient energy accessible to working people.

03/08/2026

Energy is climate action. How energy is produced and delivered directly affects emissions. At the same time, energy is also a social good. Access to energy is closely linked to health, wellbeing, and livelihoods. In an era of extreme heat, it is also essential for building climate resilience. That is why clean energy must be affordable and accessible to everyone." — Zeenia Shaukat

On 29 July 2026, The Knowledge Forum (TKF), in collaboration with the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), convened Pakistan's Energy Security: The Reality for Working People at the Karachi Press Club.

The discussion brought together economists, researchers, journalists, and policy practitioners who examined the links between energy affordability, inequality, and climate resilience, while exploring practical pathways to expand access to renewable energy, particularly for low-income households.

My sincere thanks to our distinguished speakers, participants, and our partners at the Karachi Union of Journalists for making this timely dialogue possible.

31/07/2026

On 29 July 2026, at TKF and Karachi Union of Journalists' seminar "Pakistan's Energy Security: The Reality for Working People," economist Dr. Kaiser Bengali highlighted a simple but powerful principle: during times of crisis, governments should protect people not increase their financial burden.

He argued that affordable rooftop solar should be made accessible through soft loan programmes, allowing low and middle-income families to reduce electricity costs and lessen their dependence on an increasingly expensive grid.

Dr. Bengali also stressed that Pakistan's energy security is not just about producing more electricity—it is about making energy affordable, equitable, and resilient. He called for:
☀️ Affordable rooftop solar financing for households.
🏘️ Better urban and village planning with cooler, well-ventilated housing to reduce energy demand.
⛽ Smarter fuel policies to ensure energy costs do not disproportionately burden low-income families.

"Solar energy is the only affordable long-term solution for common citizens." — Dr. Kaiser Bengali

As Pakistan faces rising temperatures, increasing energy costs, and economic pressures, energy policies must put people's welfare at the centre.

31/07/2026

On 29 July 2026, The Knowledge Forum (TKF), in collaboration with the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), convened “Pakistan’s Energy Security: The Reality for Working People” at the Karachi Press Club.

Against the backdrop of rising electricity costs, intensifying heatwaves, and growing climate risks, the seminar brought together economists, energy experts, researchers, journalists, and policy practitioners to discuss how Pakistan can build an energy system that is affordable, equitable, and climate resilient.

Among the key insights shared:

💬 “Solar energy is the only affordable long-term solution for common citizens.” — Dr. Kaiser Bengali

💬 “The government should provide relief to citizens during times of crisis rather than increasing their financial burden through taxation.” — Dr. Kaiser Bengali

💬 “Climate has been identified as the biggest economic risk facing Pakistan—greater than any revenue shortfall or foreign exchange crisis.” — Sadya Siddiqui

💬 “The current wave of solarisation is benefiting higher-income households, while low-income communities can neither afford grid electricity nor the upfront cost of solar.” — Basil Andrews

The discussion reinforced that Pakistan’s energy transition must go beyond expanding electricity supply. It must prioritize affordability, climate resilience, and equitable access to clean energy, ensuring that economically vulnerable households are not left behind.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our distinguished speakers, participants, and partners for contributing to this timely dialogue and advancing evidence-based conversations on Pakistan’s energy future.

30/07/2026

On 29 July 2026, The Knowledge Forum (TKF), in collaboration with the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), convened “Pakistan’s Energy Security: The Reality for Working People” at the Karachi Press Club.

Against the backdrop of rising electricity costs, intensifying heatwaves, and growing climate risks, the seminar brought together economists, energy experts, researchers, journalists, and policy practitioners to discuss how Pakistan can build an energy system that is affordable, equitable, and climate resilient.

Among the key insights shared:

💬 “Solar energy is the only affordable long-term solution for common citizens.” — Dr. Kaiser Bengali

💬 “The government should provide relief to citizens during times of crisis rather than increasing their financial burden through taxation.” — Dr. Kaiser Bengali

💬 “Climate has been identified as the biggest economic risk facing Pakistan—greater than any revenue shortfall or foreign exchange crisis.” — Sadya Siddiqui

💬 “The current wave of solarisation is benefiting higher-income households, while low-income communities can neither afford grid electricity nor the upfront cost of solar.” — Basil Andrews

The discussion reinforced that Pakistan’s energy transition must go beyond expanding electricity supply. It must prioritize affordability, climate resilience, and equitable access to clean energy, ensuring that economically vulnerable households are not left behind.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our distinguished speakers, participants, and partners for contributing to this timely dialogue and advancing evidence-based conversations on Pakistan’s energy future.