No gas, no electricity. It seems Pakistan is on the path of regression instead of progress. One of the biggest issues of our governance is that adhoc and short-term measures are preferred instead of long-term measures. Take the gas load for instance. The conversion of vehicles was touted much by the previous governments without paying any heed to what would happen a few years down the line. Similarly, the load shedding crisis is also being managed on an adhoc basis. When the people rioted, funds were released on an emergency basis but we’re back to square one now that those funds have been used up. If we do not fix the structural problems that beget these crises, then we’ll surely be sending ourselves back to the stone ages.
ADIL HASEEB
Lahore
Load shedding simply imposes higher costs on everyone, and failing to raise prices (which have been falling relative to inflation) encourages wasteful and inefficient consumption. With inefficiencies in payment collection, it is no surprise that there is a shortage: also not enough money to provided maintenance, efficient distribution infrastructure, and education on effective use of a limited resource. Generators, UPS, batteries, inefficiencies, imported fuel for generators, loss of employment, value of time spent waiting for gas, scavenging for alternative fuel: all these add to the real economic costs for all. Raising prices would be easier and cheaper for everyone.
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