Fearing that the temporarily controlled power crisis might erupt again, the cabinet has approved a bold – and perhaps overly ambitious – energy conservation plan. The proposal has three main aspects: two weekly holidays, the early closure of businesses, and a recovery campaign on defaulters who collectively owe more than Rs300 billion in unpaid electricity bills.
The decision to observe two weekly holidays in the provinces will be taken by the Council of Common Interests (CII), a powerful constitutional body set up to resolve disputes among federal units. Punjab was the only province to categorically state its opposition to the idea, but with murmurs of disapproval from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government as well, it seems the plan still has a long way to go before it runs on the ground.
(Read: Daylight saving, 2-day weekend back on the table)
The main branches of commercial banks would be exempt from the extra weekly holiday, allowing business to function as usual in the industry. A comprehensive policy regarding this will be framed shortly in consultation with the central bank.
Chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Wednesday’s cabinet meeting also decided to dissolve the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) this month and appoint professional management in distribution and generation companies, a move that highlights a rising trend of using the private sector for energy solutions.
(Read: Not so independent - Power producers to pay more for gas supply)
It was not clear how the power sector would be managed in the absence of Pepco. Insiders said the government would use a transitional team of experts for at least six months before establishing a new institution.
The cabinet also asked provincial governments to ensure that businesses and commercial areas closed at sunset and marriage halls at 10pm.
A government handout said that the PM had directed all defaulting ministries, divisions and departments to pay their electricity dues immediately or their power connections would be cut off. “A campaign will be launched for recovery of outstanding dues from private consumers within six months,” read the statement.
The handout also stated that possibilities for involving the private sector in the billing and metering of electricity consumption will be explored.
The cabinet also decided that a uniform tariff rate would be applied throughout the country, a move aimed at ending cross-subsidies in the sector. According to the handout, two months security deposit will be charged to new and defaulting consumers. Lifetime consumers using up to 100 units of electricity will be exempt from paying a security deposit.
Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh said the power crisis had hurt national economic growth, industrial production and social life. However, despite the measures proposed by his High Power Committee on Energy, there seems little hope that power cuts will end in the near future.
The PM has apparently asked the ministerial committee to submit an improved plan to deal with load-shedding, indicating that no immediate end is in sight. The PM also asked the energy committee to come up with specific financial plan at the next cabinet meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2011.
COMMENTS (16)
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We need to augment our manufacturing capacity for candles.
I was in leeds UK, and everything will close by 5 and those big savings stores would be the only ones open until 8 or round the clock. so that does happen.. the place where i worked there relied 70% on daylight and lights would only come on when that wouldnt be sufficient anymore.. and the office was designed in that manner that light could be saved. so it does happen ppl.
we need to change our lifestyles, but not according to western linees, as of course the place i am talking abt is a colder region and we cant experiment the same lifestyle ideas here, but we need to work on a long term plan of how to change our lifestyle so that energy can be efficiently used, keeping in mind the climate.
Why not six days holidays for all the A/C to shut down and then used a chinese hand fan in every MNA hands.
@FJ: I think the time for e -commerce is ripe in Pakistan! what do u say?
Its amazing that after 65 yrs pass and still we have no Concrete plan?every year we declear two day holidays in a week or advance watches for 1 hr. to save energy. It is not the solution think on it work on it.
@Phillip: @Engr. Kashif: its funny how people r suggesting closing down shops at 5 or after zuhar !! r u all house wives !!! people who work get free from work after 6 - 630 !! u cant run directly to stores for shopping ! and u cant wait for the weekend as well !!! plus where in world do the malls close at 5 pm ?
In easier words, Government has no solution to the power crisis. Reducing economic activity as a solution is stupidity.
Two days off is a good thing but it will not going to conserve the energy as much as projected by the authorities. Regarding recovery of defaulters, 80% of them are Govt's own institutions. Even if they pay in full, it would be just a transfer transaction from one account to another. To go for concrete steps, there should be an awareness campaign to conserve energy at all levels of society including Govt itself.
In my opinion we should exploit the blessing of Allah (SWT) in the form of geographical location of Pakistan. Start from 1 to 2 hours after Fajr.....Finish at Zuhar......and close all other shops (bazaars) at Magrib...well practised schedule in developed countries as well.....NEED IS JUST TO CHANGE OUR HABBITS.
Two weekly holidays plan should be enforced in the whole of Pakistan whether they are government offices or the private sector.
Also If the shop keepers and business community wants to earn more they should open up their shops by 9 am and close down by 5 pm these kind of mid set ppl have become lords they think by opening shops at 12pm and closing late around 12 am brings them business they are sadly mistaken. they will have the same kind of business even if they open shops at 9AM. All over the world shops and malls open at 9AM and shuts down at 5PM. Instead of blaming the Government the incompetent business community should learn to change their ways for the betterment not only for themselves but for the country, if they want this country to prosper.
If this government really wants to conserve energy they should stand their grounds & bring a total shutdown in the country on as 2 weekly holidays.
Two weekly holidays plan should be enforced in the entire Pakistan whether these are government offices or the private sector.
The government should not discriminate with the private sector employees as they are also equally human beings like any other government servant.
If the private sector is not given two-day week end this means that the sitting government does not care for the human rights of the people serving in private sector but is only interested to give privilege to the privileged class of the government servants who have the benefit to avail casual leave, sick leave, annual leave, ex-Pakistan leave, leave with out pay etc etc.
Let’s not discriminate among the Pakistanis belongs to different sections of the society.
To days weekly holidays should be for the entire nation, except for such institutions like hospitals, gas stations, medical stores, ambulance service etc.
We have 2 day weekends in most parts of the world and none of them have collapsed. On the contrary, it gives employees a chance to rest and balance their worklife. Pakistan should take this step!
This is NOT a solution, already businesses are suffering and by shutting them down how are you helping Pakistan?
Two days off is a good idea.In west all countries have two days off.
Here the babus and bosses should learn to wake up early and come to work by 9 AM.