The issue, of course, is that the low rate of conviction means the intended deterrent effect is not setting in. Experts have long argued the high rate of power theft, with major consumers also involved in the practice, is a factor in the acute power crisis that we face. This crisis is, of course, being felt today in homes and workplaces across the country, with protests staged recently in both Lahore and Rawalpindi over both power cuts and shortage of gas. Given the gravity of the situation, urgent measures are desperately required. The influentials have, for decades, been getting away with such theft without penalty. The data obtained by this newspaper shows just how critical the situation is. Now that the facts are out in the open, we need to see some action. The legislation put in place is quite obviously toothless, in the absence of a system under which offenders can be punished. The problem must be tackled so that we can move a few steps closer to tackling a crisis that has, literally and metaphorically, cast a cloud of darkness everywhere, adding to the hardships of daily life and causing huge economic losses as industries and workshops grind to a halt. This simply cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2014.
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