The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) plans to introduce pre-paid electricity metres as a first measure to curb the ongoing load shedding crisis in the country.
According to details, the introduction of the new electricity metres, which would require pre-paid cards, is part of the PML-N’s first 100 days’ plan after the party assumes power on June 5.
The electricity provided through these pre-paid cards, already in vogue in the West, would be without any subsidy. This move is also expected to partly address the issue of power theft.
The other features of the PML-N’s 100-day plan, which prime minister-designate Nawaz Sharif, is likely to announce at his inaugural speech, also features ‘goodies for the youth’ by way of giving them easy loans.
Commenting on the PML-N’s “plan”, analysts say that the PML-N itself played a role in the high expectations people have from the party by making tall claims before and during election campaigning. Now the PML-N would have to show how it manages its government differently from the previous ones, they said.
Experts say that the PML-N government would have to spend over Rs 5 billion daily to ensure at least 12,000 MW electricity. For increasing this limit, the Finance Department will have to shell out even more in billions.
It looks to be a gigantic task to line resources to the tune of Rs 150 billion monthly to keep load shedding at a reasonable level.
Political circles allege that the recent phase of energy crisis is due to a “go-slow policy” of the Ministry of Finance allegedly on the instructions of Ishaq Dar, who is expected to be a leading figure in the new government and who has a lot of influence over the caretaker setup as well.
It is believed that the ministry saved over Rs 40 billion through this go-slow policy.
“This amount will be utilised to give a breather to masses during the initial phase of the PML-N government and showing the people what difference the government is capable of making so early in the day,” they claimed.
Again, it is believed that Sharifs have high expectations from the Saudi government in easing the energy crisis. Again, no matter how big the bailout package from Saudi Arabia is, it will solve the problem only on short-term basis.