By SKM
July 23, 2026
ISLAMABAD: K-Electric’s (KE) industrial electricity consumption climbed to a record 6.08 billion units in FY26, reflecting a rebound in Pakistan’s economic activity and increased demand from Karachi’s manufacturing sector as the country’s GDP growth accelerated to 3.7%.
The utility said industrial power consumption rose 20% year-on-year from 5.04 billion units in FY25, surpassing the previous record of 5.84 billion units registered in FY22, when Pakistan’s economy expanded by more than 6%.
KE attributed the increase to improved industrial activity, government incentives encouraging industries to shift from captive generation to the national grid, and a more stable business environment.
“This achievement cannot be viewed in isolation. It reflects the collective efforts of the Government of Pakistan, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and Karachi’s industrial community, whose continued support has helped foster a stable and conducive business environment for investment and economic growth,” KE Chief Executive Officer Syed Muhammad Taha said in Karachi.
“Karachi remains central to Pakistan’s industrial and commercial progress. KE has provided industries with load-shedding-exempt power supply since 2013, and we are committed to continuing our role in powering that growth through reliable and sustainable power,” he added.
According to the utility, the B3 consumer category—comprising industries with power demand between 501 kilowatts and 5,000 kilowatts, including cement, steel and textile manufacturers—accounted for the highest electricity consumption during the fiscal year.
On a monthly basis, industrial electricity demand peaked in June 2026, followed by April 2026.
KE also expanded its industrial customer base during the year by energising 349 new industrial connections, while 273 existing consumers increased their sanctioned loads, adding a cumulative 168 megawatts of demand to the utility’s network.
The company noted that all industrial feeders are equipped with 100% smart meters, enabling real-time monitoring of electricity consumption by businesses.
KE said industrial consumers continue to maintain one of the highest bill recovery rates across all customer categories, a key factor behind the continuation of load-shedding exemptions for industrial feeders.
The utility said it would continue working to provide reliable electricity to support Karachi’s role as Pakistan’s industrial and commercial hub. Ends
