It is a fact that we as a nation have become used to consuming much more than what we produce – be it electricity, vegetables, fruits, or pulses etc. The ever-increasing population also adversely effects power supply and demand position.
The federal government is no doubt tackling the energy crisis on top priority basis and power projects are under execution – either near completion or being completed with speed in order to bridge the gap between energy supply and demand. Power generation projects take some years to be completed. Still, work on more than one and half power projects based on coal, thermal, hydel, LNG sources is going on quite speedily to ensure completion of more and more power plants at the earliest.
But in all fairness, have we ever thought that by making a small sacrifice by reducing usage of just air conditioners – which consume a lot of energy – the widening gap between power supply and demand can be reduced considerably? If the air conditioners in the luxurious government offices are switched on only when the incumbent Sahibs arrive and not couple of hours earlier and if the shopping markets, centres and malls are closed earlier in the evening and at least one or two air conditioners are switched off in every bungalow in posh localities, then at least duration of electricity outages will be reduced. If we just go on demanding rights without any responsibility, and continue to consume everything that comes our way, that is certainly not advisable.
If the conservation of energy and the reduction of its consumption are started by at least switching off air conditioners by the president, the prime minister, the governors and chief ministers of the provinces and the federal and provincial ministers, and public announcements are made in this regard, then load shedding will be minimised in no time.
ASMAAR BILAL
Lahore