Energy lockdowns
The Sindh government has issued fresh lockdown guidelines in a bid to conserve energy, according to which markets are to be closed by 9pm while social gathering will be allowed till 10:30pm. While emergency and essential services will be exempted, restaurants, coffee shops, gyms, cinemas will be allowed to operate till 11:30pm. Billboards and other forms of advertisements too will be switched off during the night to conserve maximum energy. As relief, restrictions will not be applied on Sunday and either Friday or Saturday be considered a weekly off.
There is an increasing fear that the thriving nightlife of Karachi will be disrupted as energy lockdowns take precedence in Sindh. Businesses and traders that operate after dark will be worst hit by the decision and will definitely be thinking of ways to keep their business goings despite these lockdowns. Learning from past experience, the government should be careful of dissent and must try to avoid any kerfuffle. The only way forward is through clear communication and by achieving a middle ground in case of pushbacks. That being said, it is becoming awfully clear that the government is not able to manage the energy crisis as demand increases and production remains low. Investments in alternative forms of producing sustainable energy by the government are also yet to be seen as no long-term solutions have been put forth.
In order to ameliorate the crisis, the Sindh government must formulate a clear-cut plan to decrease the energy deficit in the province. The quickest way this can be done is by initiating solar power projects. Experiments must be conducted to create domestic solar systems for residential use. This will not just reduce electricity bill for consumers but provide immense relief to the over-burdened energy sector.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2022.
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