It is high time that we began utilising our scarce resources in an effective and efficient manner.
LAHORE: Gas load-shedding three times a week has badly disrupted the daily lives of millions of Pakistanis in recent months. The situation in the cities is grim and requires the full attention of the government. There is a dire need to develop alternatives to traditional household fuels, such as wood and coal because Pakistan’s rapid population growth has caused a rapid depletion of fossil fuels. In such a situation, the government must explore the use of solar energy, given that Pakistan is a country with abundant sunshine.
Provincial governments should devise region-specific strategies for the promotion and dissemination of solar energy to help alleviate the power shortages. In low-income areas, the government could consider providing a subsidy to residents to enable them to purchase solar cookers. It is high time that we began utilising our scarce resources in an effective and efficient manner.
Fatima Mansoor
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2014.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
