Karachi:
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has increased municipal taxes on commercial and industrial electricity consumers, sparking concern among business leaders and citizens already grappling with rising costs.
According to the revised structure, the tax for commercial and industrial users has been raised from Rs 400 to Rs 750. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab revealed that KMC’s collection from electricity bills reached a record Rs 330 million in July alone. Of this, Rs 220 million was saved after disbursements, compared to just Rs 100 million in savings before the increase.
Meanwhile, K-Electric’s commission income has also grown, as the utility continues to charge a 7.5 percent fee for collecting KMC’s waste management tax through electricity bills.
The business community has voiced strong criticism of the hike. Sharjeel Goplani, a prominent trade leader, accused KMC of “overburdening both traders and the public” by extracting billions of rupees in garbage taxes and inflated bills. He said the decision has intensified financial pressure on businesses already struggling to survive in a fragile economic environment.
Observers warn that while KMC may have boosted its revenues, the move risks fueling resentment among Karachi’s residents, who feel they are paying more without seeing visible improvements in municipal services.
