Can startups light up Pakistan? Experts weigh in on KE’s innovation drive
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A view of the K-Electric (KE) head office in Karachi. — K-Electric website/File
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KARACHI: Electric (KE) is turning to Startups to tackle Pakistan’s energy challenges, which has been praised by experts, though they are skeptical about how to manage the use of electricity while being obedient to innovation.
Pakistan’s energy sector faces significant challenges, including incredible power supply, damaged infrastructure, high taxes and increasing dependence on imported foam fuel. In response, the only electricity utility for Karachi – Pakistan’s largest city – and its adjoining areas, have launched epic 2025 (the challenge of energy development and innovation). The purpose of this program is to accelerate the development of modern, practical solutions for the energy sector, which has led to the success of the company’s 7/11+ innovation challenge from 2022, but with an expanded scope.
Participants in the epic can either focus on the challenging statements provided by the company or suggest their own change theories. One of the major focus of epic themes is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in electricity demand, actively detect energy theft to increase grid stability and reduce trade losses.
Other themes of the program include developing evidence of the PMT -based load -shedding solution to enable the distribution of feller, more transparent power while protecting the paying users from obstacles to unnecessary services. Battery Energy Storage System (BES) is also being focused on managing system dynamics among the increasing integration of renewable energy. Epic tries to detect the failures of the transformer.
“Since its launch in March 2025, the EPIC has successfully positioned itself as a leading platform, which has promoted mutual cooperation between businessmen, academia, researchers and think tanks, which is dedicated to the energy industry.”
He said the challenge provides innovators to receive guidance sessions to the innovators to present their views to industry experts and to help them increase the feasibility of their suggestions and to increase the scale.
He added that the top three finalists will also receive cash prizes and KE potential contract with the top three finalists to put the selected projects into practice, adding that his statement was released last week, reports that more than 100 local and foreign organizations, including investigations, have expressed their interest.
“In recent years, Pakistani startups have shown the growing abilities in recent years, especially in the domains of Clean -Tech,” says Avis Ashraf, director of AKD Securities Limited Research.
Ashraf added, “With the right guidance, access to data, regulatory support and Epic, there is a meaningful contribution to local businessmen and innovators such as detection of energy theft, renewable energy integration, and prediction restoration.”
He says local examples of Fintic Innovation include Ezaypesa, Jazzakash, Safe Pay, Sadi and Credit Books. In place of Etticic – where agriculture matches technology – notable Startups include Tizah, Farmeter, Pakgarmaret, Agardia and Copy 2X. He believes that Pakistani startup tech is dealing with real challenges in finance and agriculture. The success of these projects also reflects the growing ecosystem that can be benefited to solve energy sector problems under programs like EPIC. According to Ashraf, the move represents a passionate platform for mutual innovation, and if implemented with transparency and the engagement of permanent stakeholders, it can be a model of innovation led by Pakistan and beyond.
Pakistan is struggling due to a mixture of several startup factors, including funds, regulatory barriers and difficulties in achieving operational issues. A report from Think Tank Investigation 2 Innovates (I2I) shows that Pakistan’s Startup Economic System has faced significant fluctuations in 2022 with $ 355 million in funding, after which decreased by $ 355 million in 2023. Then in 2023, it decreased in 2024, with about $ 37 million raised in November.
KE has faced criticism between the increasing demand for electricity, especially during the heat months, due to the failure of energy production. However, the company claims that since its privatization, it has doubled its customer base, power consumption and infrastructure, while half the loss of transmission and distribution (T&D). It has invested Rs 598 billion in its value chain in the distribution, breeding and transmission system from 2005 to 2022. When it was privatized, it had 1.8 million users. Today, that number has increased to about 3. 3.7 million. According to KK Stability reports, it has reduced its T&D losses in 2005 to 15.99 % from 34.2 % in 2024, with a recovery rate of 91.5 %. In 2024, KE conducted about 25,000 operations to remove illegal contacts (Kundas), weighing about 350 350,000 kilograms.
For the current climate change issues, a vision has been set to increase its share of renewable energy (solar and air) by 30 % for sustainable and green energy transfer by 2030. As part of its seven-year investment project (2023-2030), the company plans to invest another Rs 372 billion in its value chain to meet the demand for 5,000 MW of electricity for nearly five million consumers.
Saad Shah, CEO of Hexalzie Consulting Services, believes that energy efficiency, energy protection and green energy are key trends and existing challenges in the world these days, which should be solved at all levels through creative ideas, research and development, invention, and innovation.
“The role of technology is essential to tackling modern challenges to provide affordable solutions to society, especially in Pakistan, where electricity prices are left at a high level,” Shah says.
According to Dr. Nahan A, a start -up coach and CEO of SI Global Solutions, electric industrial growth and overall economic activities have become a life of life, but it should be cheaper for business of different sizes business and all sections of society.
“Clean and green energy is needed at this time and can play an important role in replacing other hydrocarbon resources such as natural gas in power plants. Therefore, in the future, electricity is essential and it can be done through the collective role of industries, university labs and startups centers.”
