KARACHI:
Pakistan is facing both an acute shortage of energy and an excessively high energy costs. Sadly, the per-unit electricity price in Pakistan is Rs60 (for the highest slab), which is 500% higher than what consumers in India and Bangladesh pay. These high charges, coupled with frequent power cuts, not only affect individuals but also have a detrimental impact on the country’s economy. Unfortunately, many industrial units have moved to Bangladesh to cut their production costs. Besides, the lack of natural gas is also hurting. The annual production of 4 billion cubic feet (bcf) is insufficient to meet the national demand which has now surpassed 6 bcf. The energy crisis needs to be addressed urgently, to make our exports competitive in the world market. This will also help end the foreign exchange crisis as well. Therefore, the government must take effective steps to tackle the energy crisis.
Syed Zamin Ali
Larkana
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2024.
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