KARACHI:
A few days ago, some media outlets highlighted electricity shortages nationwide, attributing them to dense fog in Multan causing grid stations to trip. Employing dense fog or a localised grid disturbance as a pretext to rationalise a planned 6-8 hour load shedding nationwide is an absurd line of reasoning.
I’d like to clarify, given my background as an engineer, that the issues of electricity load shedding and gas supply interruptions faced by Pakistanis nationwide are essentially self-inflicted problems that can be readily addressed through effective planning. Hence, I urge both the media and the people of Pakistan not to accept the seemingly baseless excuses presented by the government agencies responsible for electricity, gas and water. These organisations possess the capability to strategise and resolve the challenges they are encountering within a short timeframe. If components or systems from my orders in China can reach my home within ten days, there should be no reason why the government cannot procure the necessary parts to rectify these issues over the past 15 years.
I also urge engineers nationwide to express their disagreement against such absurd statements that undermine the credibility of the engineering field. If the government is incapable of addressing the electricity, gas and water supply issues, they should seek assistance from the Pakistan Engineering Council or engage a consultant engineer. Individuals intentionally perpetuating these issues in Pakistan are acting against the interests of our nation and should be recognised as adversaries.
Shahryar Khan Baseer
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2024.
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