Well, if Pakistan’s coal reserves are really capable of generating 60,000MW electricity, enough to meet a hundred years’ demand, then Islamabad’s top energy boys have their work pretty much taken care of. Just ensure the coal is exploited in manners that meet its productive potential and you have a full century of uninterrupted energy, peak-performing industry, value-added exports, improved national revenue and subsequently GDP.
Yet despite the series of political crises visiting the capital, it is the energy question that has the ruling party paralysed. Coming at the heels of the regional slowdown from reduced exports to recession-struck western importers, power shortage has debilitated manufacturing and industry, jacking up unemployment. And with the general election looming, this is one problem PPP stalwarts cannot possibly wriggle out of by playing the political martyr card. People have genuine problems that the leadership has failed to address – its every promise dishonoured, every claim false. And they are expected to turn fury to vote very soon, and rightly so. Ironically, increased provincial powers in the wake of the 18th amendment failed to draw a reciprocal show of responsibility from provincial governments, exposing indiscipline as well as incompetence. And so far as this crucial issue is not settled, both tax earnings and energy exploration will remain compromised. For the time being, it behooves the government to follow forcefully what avenues are open to it. Since our coal card is a sure winner, those in charge must expedite whatever work remains to begin generating energy as soon as technically possible. There’s a political angle to it too. Any government that can bring a hundred years of electricity is sure to have a pretty long tenure in office.
