The Water and Power Ministry announced Saturday as a holiday in April due to the acute power crisis in the country. An official from the Sukkur Electric Supply Company (Sepco) told The Express Tribune, on the condition of anonymity, that there was an increase in kunda system due to the long weekend.
“People used to set up an illegal connection on Friday evening and enjoy free electricity till early Monday,” he explained. The official added that since the demand for electricity has gone down by more than 60 per cent in these months, theft has also reduced.
As far as the power distribution companies are concerned, five working days a week were a total loss because it raised line losses, he added.
Electric supply companies are not the only ones rejoicing the government’s decision, children are also happy that their schools are open on Saturdays. “Now I can study and meet my friends for six days instead of five,” said her friend, Mahnoor, also a student of class V.
Erum Tahir, class VII, was unhappy with this decision because her mother was a heart patient and since she is the only daughter, she feels the need to spend more time at home.
Shopkeepers, especially book sellers, also support the decision because they expect their sales to increase in the extra working day. “We used to open our shops early in the morning before school timings for students to do their last-minute shopping for pencils and erasers,” said Shahid Shamsi, a bookseller. Government servants complained about working an extra day. “It was good for us to work only five days because we could go back to our hometowns on Friday afternoon and return on Monday,” said one official. Another official disagreed mainly because he believed that working more will keep him away from domestic tensions.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2010.
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