Businessmen of the country, while appreciating the energy conservation policy, have suggested to the government to switch over to daylight saving time (DST) by advancing the clock by one hour, which will help to utilise daylight and make savings in energy import.
Pakistan Businesses Forum (PBF) has welcomed the federal government’s decision to close shops by 8pm and wedding halls by 10pm in view of the current difficult economic situation.
It was of the view that the improvement in energy efficiency could benefit the entire economy including the gross domestic product (GDP), employment, trade balance and energy prices.
“Our energy import bill has increased to $28 billion and if it continues to surge, a more difficult scenario will emerge,” said PBF Sindh Secretary General Mustafa Abdullah Baloch.
Energy conservation would result in savings in oil and gas imports, ultimately protecting the critical foreign exchange reserves, he remarked.
Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) urged the government to opt for DST by turning the clock ahead by one hour.
The measure would not only improve the productivity and performance of trade and industry, but would also help to reduce the effects of power shortage, it elaborated.
“The extra daylight hour will give a boost to businesses and increase economic activity. It will be more appropriate to refer to it as ‘daylight optimisation time’,” said PALSP Secretary General Wajid Bukhari.
He recalled that in 2009 the trade and industry had achieved better results with the adoption of DST, which would also help in the rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the flood-affected areas.
“Businessmen must learn to start early. They get up late and reach workplaces by 12 noon, when almost half of the day is gone,” remarked Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) President Zulfikar Thaver. “This habit is spoiling the younger generation.”
DST is adopted by many countries to save energy. Almost 64 countries followed this in 2022, which included Turkey, Iran, Canada, the US, the European Union and others.
“DST results are always positive for the economy and it never burdens the government with additional costs. It is considered a stimulant for economic growth and labour productivity,” Thaver said.
“Restaurant timings may be extended by one hour till 11pm while limiting the timings of wedding halls and shops is the need of the hour,” suggested the PBF Sindh secretary general.
He pointed out that markets across the world were closed around 6-7 pm and Pakistan was among a few countries that did not utilise the daylight benefits.
“This cannot continue any longer as the country is passing through difficult economic times. People must adapt to a new habit and help the economy survive,” he emphasised.
“In India, for example, the air conditioner manufacturers are required to set default temperature at 24 degrees. This means that the air conditioner will automatically cool a room or a workplace at 24 degrees instead of 20 or 22 degrees,” he said. “Though consumers have the option to change it, but many do not do it, thus saving energy.”
Similarly, a drought caused electricity shortfall in Chile in 2007 and 2008 and the South American nation avoided power outages by taking a series of measures, which included public awareness campaigns and a scheme to distribute energy-efficient lighting products, said Mustafa Baloch.
Following the 1973 oil crisis, Denmark drastically reduced its reliance on imported oil, diversifying its energy mix and implementing an ambitious and comprehensive portfolio of energy efficiency initiatives, he concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2022.
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