Once bitten, twice shy is an adage that perhaps doesn’t apply to our government. Though the demand for more electricity supply was bound to touch new heights with the onset of summer – considerably a lengthy season in Pakistan – what baffles common sense is the unprepared manner in which the government is acting. A shortfall of 6500 MW can neither be blamed on the previous government, nor can it be simply wished away.
After an effort of the same nature last year, albeit a futile one, the government has called for some stringent measures to curb the line losses (at a staggering 24 percent), recovery from defaulters (around Rs 80 billion), and a steady flow of furnace oil and gas. Agreed that not all of it is the present government’s doing – the last dictator’s shenanigans put a dint in more than just one way with power sector being one of the victims – it would be an even bigger folly to believe that part of the blame does not rest upon the incumbent government’s shoulders. Emergency meetings, like the ones being held now, were also held last year. If nada was the word then, nay will be now. Why taking this exercise the whole nine yard seems more important for the government than actually putting forth a practical solution is a million dollar question. Will this tend to our real problem of imbalance in our energy profile? How will it utilise on an even keel all the various sources of power generation? Circular debt has become gigantic, nay a monster, eager to devour any industry standing on its feet.
Like the leader who was told to open the two letters in case of trouble, one asking to blame on the previous leader while the other asking to sit down and write his two letters, the time for the first letter has come and gone long ago. If things continue the way they are now, the time for opening the second letter won’t be way too far. Before that, there is still a chance to correct another historic wrong.