Two letters in today’s issue have highlighted the problems being faced due to load-shedding, ‘Conservation now’ by Safia Muqri and ‘Load-shedding problems’ by Syeda Quratul-Ain.
Load-shedding, though most inconvenient, is only a part of the problem of power shortage. Half the country’s industry is shut down impacting adversely upon exports, foreign exchange earnings, balance of payment, price hike, unemployment and poverty.
Expensive power in limited quantities from IPPs and RPPs is not the answer. Generation from coal and from alternate sources of energy also have long gestation periods.
The mega quantities of power required at affordable prices can be made available only by mega hydel projects like Kalabagh dam. Bhasha dam will be too little, too late. According to today’s newspaper its construction has been delayed further by three years.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
