KE restores Railways' electricity following power cut due to unpaid dues

• Amount of Rs430 million owed by Pakistan Railways.
• Power cut affects online ticket booking, 38 trains.
• Railways threatens to withhold K-Electric payments.

Karachi's sole electricity provider K-Electric (KE) has restored power supply to the Pakistan Railways hours after cutting the power due to the latter's unpaid dues on Wednesday.

A court, as per a Railways spokesperson, has lifted the stay order secured by the KE directing both parties to resolve the issue.

With the divisional superintendent of the Pakistan Railways present in the KE's office along with officials, negotiations are underway between the two sides to find a solution.

The development follows the KE's decision to suspend the power supply to the Pakistan Railways colonies and installations in light of dues amounting to Rs430 million against 31 connections.

Lamenting that the dues were not cleared despite multiple reminders and assurances, the electricity supplier had stressed that the continued power supply was unsustainable without the payments.

"Despite accommodating the Pakistan railways, these commitments have been dishonoured time and again," complained the power distributor.

Earlier in the day, DS Pakistan Railways Karachi Nasir Khalili said that the power cuts at installations and colonies had severely impacted train operations, suspending online ticket booking and affecting 38 passenger trains operating from the city on a daily basis.

Khalili highlighted that the Karachi division generates daily revenue of Rs50-60 million for the Railways.

He also claimed the KE owes the Railways Rs70 billion in unpaid dues over the past decade.

He warned the electricity supplier of further action, including withholding bill payments, if the power issue persists.