KE industrial consumption surges to record 6bn units in FY26

July 24, 2026 (MLN): K-Electric's industrial feeders recorded consumption of 6.08bn units in FY26, the highest ever registered, as Pakistan's GDP growth climbed to 3.7% during the fiscal year, cementing the utility's role in sustaining Karachi's industrial base through uninterrupted power supply.

The previous high was logged in FY22, when industrial offtake touched 5.84bn units alongside GDP growth of over 6% that year. Consumption had stayed subdued in the years since amid economic pressures, before FY26 posted a 20% year-on-year jump over the 5.04bn units drawn in FY25.

KE Chief Executive Officer Syed Muhammad Taha said the milestone was the outcome of collective efforts by the Government of Pakistan, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and Karachi's industrial community, whose backing has sustained a stable environment for investment and growth.

He added that Karachi continues to anchor Pakistan's industrial and commercial activity, noting that KE has kept industries free of loadshedding since 2013 and remains committed to reliable, sustainable supply.

All of KE's industrial feeders operate on 100% smart metering, allowing units across the city's manufacturing zones to track their consumption in real time, said a press release issued.

Within this base, the B3 category  comprising industries with load requirements of 501-5,000kW, including cement, steel and textile units  accounted for the highest consumption.

June 2026 was the single busiest month for industrial offtake, followed by April 2026.

The rebound has been driven partly by a government push to shift industrial units from captive power generation onto the national grid, alongside the broader recovery in GDP growth. During the year, KE energised 349 new industrial connections and processed 273 load-enhancement cases, together adding 168MW of demand to the grid.

The company noted that industrial consumers continue to post stronger bill-recovery rates than other customer categories, which it linked directly to their eligibility for loadshedding exemption.

KE said it remains focused on ensuring uninterrupted supply to the sector despite prevailing constraints, given its role in keeping Karachi's economy running.

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