The writer is a professor at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar. She recently completed her PhD in Computer Science from the University of York, UK
I hope you are doing well and are busy overseeing the planning and execution of the solutions to the many problems our nation faces today. Since you’re probably too busy planning these reforms and you have just stepped into office, I thought I’d be kind enough to tell you a bit about your awaam.
Just as dutiful children are expected to inform their parents about the developments in their lives, I want to inform you. Please note that we have finally installed a generator at home! Despite living in a posh area of the capital city of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, we face several unannounced and unscheduled power cuts. The long absences of electricity are really felt badly. We have waited for years for the governments to fix the power crisis but it has not happened thus far.
The heat is getting unbearable and so is the energy crisis. We had initially installed a UPS (which seemed like a small miracle itself, when the fans and lights kept working even when there was a power cut) as we naively believed in the promises made by our government, time and again. Sadly, our patience has worn off. I am not blaming you. It is not entirely your fault but it is the fault of the people who have had power for years, who had the power to bring change, the people within whom power oscillates.
As a child, thanks to our former president, Ziaul Haq, who introduced the concept of load-shedding, I remember living through just one hour of scheduled deprivation each day. Can you please give my children the same facilities? Can you give this nation an uninterrupted eight hours of sleep each night? Can you give your people the surety that their government is there for them? Do you even realise the responsibility you have? Do you get eight hours of sleep, uninterrupted by power cuts and worries of basic livelihood? Can you give our senior citizens the surety that the sacrifices they made for the independence of this state were worthwhile?
We have done you a favour, by electing you to power, now you have to return that favour. You, being a businessman yourself, should know better — use this knowledge to cut costs and effectively utilise our resources. Please use your skills for the betterment of the nation. We really need you to. We don’t expect you to buy cheap electricity from another state as we do have enough resources to work miracles for us. We wouldn’t object to getting cheap electricity for some time, just as temporary relief for us and you could consider it eidi for your awaam. Ultimately, we want a permanent and effective indigenous solution — no imports allowed.
I promise we will keep our end of the deal if you keep yours. I promise we will work hard. We will do all we can for the improvement of our nation, only if you support us. Sixty-five years have gone by and things are not improving, in fact, rather than going forward we’re running in reverse gear.
I will be waiting for a positive response.
Yours Sincerely.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (30)
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@Nawaz Sharif: Thank you for doing all that. I was positive that you would be working on it. I do not deny the faults that lie within us and the system but we need support from the government along with incentives to perform better.
@AliKuliKhan: I appreciate the critique. The idea was to write it such, as Pakistanis we have been taught at every level in our curriculum that your leader will be answerable if the nation is in distress as mostly parents are for their children hence the parent-child analogy. I am well aware of the dynamics of power shortage and if the word limit was not 800 words I had also drafted the means of power generation. Also, we don't want quick fixes hence we can wait for solid solutions.
@polpot: I guess then the budget should be allocated on a need basis
@Nawaz Sharif: I pay my bills and taxes will be paying an additional bill for the generator and not to mention an increased bill of electricity due to rise in the price. Honestly speaking rather than targeting the middle, lower middle and lower class who mostly pay bills you should try getting the industrialists to pay their dues. Those that do not pay there is a reason for it: high unemployment due to energy crisis.
@Mohammad Qadeer: Would you like to live without electricity now?
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks: I am positive that things will improve. The people will make a difference. Yes we have many exemplary leaders in the world one day we can hope that ours will be one of those.
@uet: Indeed, majority in KPK did not vote for him. He is the prime minister not the chief minister of a province so no matter what the people of Pakistan have voted for him and he should consider all Pakistanis.
@ uet: Indeed, majority in KPK did not vote for him. He is the prime minister not the chief minister of a province so no matter what the people of Pakistan have voted for him and he should consider all Pakistanis. @ naeem khan Manhattan,Ks: I am positive that things will improve. The people will make a difference. Yes we have many exemplary leaders in the world one day we can hope that ours will be one of those. @ Mohammad Qadeer: Would you like to live without it now? @ Water bottle: we are strong hence we survive. We are proud to be Pakistanis @ Nawaz Shareef: I pay my bills and taxes will be paying an additional bill for the generator and not to mention an increased bill of electricity due to rise in the price. Honestly speaking rather than targeting the middle, lower middle and lower class who mostly pay bills you should try getting the industrialists to pay their dues. Those that do not pay there is a reason for it: high unemployment. @ polpot: I guess then the budget should be allocated on a need basis @ AliKuliKhan: I appreciate the critique. The idea was to write it such, as Pakistanis we have been taught at every level in our curriculum that your leader will be answerable if the nation is in distress as mostly parents are for their children hence the parent-child analogy. I am well aware of the dynamics of power shortage and if the word limit was not 800 words I had also drafted the means of power generation. Also, we don't want quick fixes hence we can wait for solid solutions. @ Nawaz Sharif: Thank you for doing all that. I was positive that you would be working on it. I do not deny the faults that lie within us and the system but we need support from the government along with incentives to perform better.
@Mohammad Qadeer: Way back in the past people used to travel on foot,camels,horses etc.let's discontinue our bus,train and airlines services and go back to Camel Travel Services.I was born in a village and we got electricity in1962.What a relief and blessing it was.Let Mr.Qadeer be the first Chief Execcutive of National Camel Transport Services.
As far this government position is concerned definitely we can not blame them a lot on this issue as they have just stepped in but there apparent response to tackle the electricity problem looks immature and unserious. They have raised the price of electricity to put more burdens on law abiding people. No significant measures against thieves and no major actions to reduce line losses. This could lead the people to steal the electricity who have been paying their bills honestly.
@whitesky: "Till then bear the load shedding of varying degree." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ in other words things will get worse before they get better.
@whitesky summed it nicely! Most people in Pak are either are stealing electricity (and Gas) and/or not paying bills and then crying hoarse.
@Syme NS is already working.
We have already cleared previous govt burden of about Rs 1 Trillion. Rs 500 Billion of curricular debt and 425 Billion shortfall in revenue collection for FY2012-13.
If you still can't see the light, God help you.
NS will start working as soon as he read this post :)
Pakistan has the installed capacity for energy production. Majority of the capacity is from fossil fuel which has become costlier beyond the tolerable (financial burden due to subsidy on it) limit. the total production of energy is not sold but lost in transit which is a respectable word for the energy theft. this loss is to the tune of 22% to 40% among various distribution companies. Further itching is in the shape of non payment of the bill in various provinces which is also sizable. So the fault lies with the general people too which none likes to point out. but the ultimate effect is reduction in revenue from the .sale of electricity. continuation of such a situation deteriorated the financial health of the power producing as well as the distribution companies. The net result IPP find themselves unable to produce the power in line with the capacity in absence of input / furnace oil..In this scenario and background author can blame the regime past and the present.. In short term measure either the tariff has to be increased to make the subsidy bearable and steps required for improving revenue collection. stopping the energy theft( by industrialists and the common people too) by stricter rules and legislation. Long term measures will be to have cheaper way of energy production i.e. Hydro, coal and gas based . Till then bear the load shedding of varying degree.
The author has no idea that the relationship between the citizen and the elected members of the parliament is not that of a parent and a child. It’s a relationship of an adult member of a society and the elected member of the parliament. And as adults we assess the performance of the elected members and decide if they should be voted again into the parliament of not. We do no favors when we elect members of parliament, we show our confidence in their ability to deliver on their promises. In addition the author has little idea of the dynamics of power shortage and how the shortage is overcome. Quite a childish piece I must say.
Dear Gulay Saman. Congratulations for getting your Phd. in Computer Science. Many of the learned commentators above have given you very good advice. It is true that you are talking to the walls. Getting a generator is a good policy. What people need to do is to get together to get better and bigger generators for those interested in investing in this useful venture. I doubt if there would not be many. Self help is the best help. God helps those who help themselves. God also helps the intelligent. Self helping people do not need to go to anyone to beg for help. Why? They are self helping themselves. One more thing. It is true that you have elected people to work for you. There is a fatal mistake you and people have made. What have you done to make sure that those whom you have elected will work for you and not work for any Mafia.? Can we not see how those elected by the people of the USA have to work for the Mafia. Why? The Mafias are organised to take those, elected by the people, their hostage. Mafia is able to do so, only because people have not bothered to organise themselves to be able to counter any of the Mafias.
He bought government not for you but to get maximum return of his investments. He is here for himself and for Mian Mansha.
Madam You can be sure of a deluge of words but here is the reality; " the Army’s one-day spending is equivalent to the running year’s total allocation for education ministry, and the air-force’s per day expenditures far exceed what was allocated to the health ministry for running the financial year" Source;http://ipl.edu.pk/document/Pakistan_Army.pdf I suggest you feel proud next time you see a PAF aircraft flying in the sky.
Dear Gul,
Thank you for voting me in. Now start paying your bills too and stop stealing electricity.
The other day Khawaja Asif told me that 93% of KPK users do not pay any bills.
Your Khadim
Nawaz Sharif
I dread to imagine what it takes to be a Pakistani.
I think Pakistan should take positives out of this and learn to be strong and resilient.
For thousands of years we have lived without electricity and we can live without it at night. Please do not whine I grew up in a village without electricity.
Don't hold your breath Dr.Saman, just read in between the lines which he has stated time after time.As the saying goes that past record is the indicative of the future. His sojourn to Saudi Arabia should make you realize that his interest come first, while the nation was facing devastation by floods but he has to have his vacation of 8 days in Saudi Arabia. If you recall, Zardari did the same. I recall when the bombing happened in London Subway few years ago , PM Tony Blair was in Washington DC, and he rushed back immediately to London, but do you think our leaders would do some thing like that, I doubt it very much. The cancellation of the Iran-Pakistan gas line should be an eye opener for you and the rest of the nation. Think about it , is the pipe line benefit the citizens of Pakistan or not, if it does then why it was sidelined specially when the Iranians has completed the pipe line their side of the border and were partly financing on this side of the border. It seems to me that Pakistan has become a Banana Republic by the shenanigans of their leaders who are corrupt to the core. Good luck to you and the rest of the nation.
He gonna fix it because of Punjabi entrepreneurial class that voted for him and he holds them dear. By the way KPK did not vote for him, just for record. Also isnt this a provincial issue?
Dear Gul-Saman,You are talking to the wall.Do not wait for a response and upgrade your level of patience and fortitude.
Truly emotional and solid piece - well done!
The ansguish of the author comes thru in the article +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Now waiting for NS to reply.
With all due respect this should be placed in blog or letters not Op Ed.
You have expressed the sentiments of many. I would take this a bit further by saying that our leaders have not failed us..........they have betrayed us.
Hahaha. pretty nice article, I loved it. whether the wish is fulfilled by the government or not, but they you wrote was absolutely beautiful.