The power riots that have rocked Punjab’s cities over the past few days have grown more fearsome as tempers rise and people become more desperate. Loadshedding has suddenly increased and is now upto 10 to 14 hours a day and this comes just as the summer approaches. But even more so than physical discomfort, it is the prospect of losing work that is scaring people. Times are already hard, the notion that they may worsen is obviously unbearable.
As the protests on the streets continue, two people were killed during a riot on the GT Road in Lahore, when guards at a private petrol pump opened fire on a rampaging mob. In Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and elsewhere, cars have been burned and WAPDA offices attacked. People clearly feel that they do not have a choice and must act. The power shortfall has reached 6,500 MW, while the old crisis of circular debt has also raised its ugly its head — with Lesco claiming it is owed huge amounts by the Punjab government. The Independent Power Producers’ dues are also said to be outstanding. The promises of reduced loadshedding have, of course, proved entirely futile. Right now the people feel they have no choice but to revolt against a set-up that has failed them again and again.
Unsurprisingly, the issue is becoming a politicised one. It has been raised in the ongoing joint session of parliament by opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali, who also noted that neither the prime minister nor the president were in the country to look into the crisis. No one really believes the Interior Minister Rehman Malik when he says the issue will be solved in 24 hours, especially since he did not say exactly how this will happen. The PML-N has warned of a long march if the matter is not dealt with in 48 hours. With all this happening, one can only wonder the extent to which our economy is suffering and how the threat of increased joblessness hovers menacingly around people who live in a constant state of fear to make ends meet.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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There is no shortage of electricity, problem is stealing of electricity which Govt call line losses and impossible to control in present system
Guys please try to get wholistic idea of the problem. Gov is buying electricity at 15.23/unit and supplying to the consumers at 11.23/unit. which means every citizen is getting a subsidy of Rs.4 /unit. This subsidy is going to those black sheeps as well, who don't even pay taxes and steal electricity. Again people will say its duty of our gov to stop these crimes, yes it is but its not a piece of cake in a country where around 3 t0 5 % people pay taxes.
@Hamza:
Much of theses problems would go away if the real cost of production was charged as has been pointed out. Since everyone wants the government to underwrite the true cost of power this problem will remain because the government has limited resources....
Consistant with the attitude of the majority PAK feel they should be an exception to the laws of economics.
Dear Ashok, I know that your task is to a. make the people of Pak less confident and b. turn the people against the military at every opportunity. Thereby through soft power you are able to boost your eago and gain upper hand. No doubt, constant application of this works wonders over the years especially in molding the young minds of your rivals.
I am not sure whether this is done on a personal level or there's a cell within RAW that works on this soft side. However, in any case, it is revealing to see the no. of comments from across the borders for sure.
Despite knowing and seeing all these conditions in Pakistan if you ask the Pakistani PPP's leadership especially PM Gillani about the current internal and external security situation/concerns then PM Gillani shall say only that "all is well" and we are doing our best and utmost to facilitate the nation and our main motto is to give relief the nation and to make Pakistan a prosperous and economically advanced country but the ground realities are different from the visible truths and realities.
@ashok: The problem is not that of power plant installation, but it's of the government in ability to pay companies for the fuel to generate electricity. The present Government has been so corrupt that it ate consumer bills and didnt paid a penny to private power companies in recent years resulting in a huge circular debt. As a result we still have no power.
The power plant on the country are although not sufficient but are enough if they operate at full capacity to almost squeeze load shedding hours. In Musharraf time we didn't had such problems as we have now.
No body wants to pay the electricity bill but everyone wants electricity 24/7. You pay now or you pay later and there is no free lunch. It looks like a war zone and Pakistans another step towards anarchy.
Who is going to fix this problem? Load shedding has made lives miserable!!!!!!
No new power station installed during the military dictatorship of decades still public shows anger on democratic parties who ruled 3-4 years at the most in one stretch left with fudged figures of finances by dictators.
Military was awash with dollars during Zia and Musharraf now there is no money. Installation of electric generating stations are capital intensive and require long term planning.
You can not have both 100 nuclear bombs or 2 large power stations. Establishment chose to have 200 nuclear bombs with AWACS.
I remember reading that in parts of North America, they burn biodegradable trash to produce energy from biomass. Considering the amount of trash I see burned in our gullis, this might be able to alleviate our energy crises to some extent, and control pollution too.