THE threat of a looming power
crisis that the country would face in the coming years was raised by us in 1994
when a group of concerned citizens had filed a public interest litigation
petition against the KESC in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Since then citizens have repeatedly raised the issue at various forums, through
seminars, debates, TV talk shows and even through street riots.
In one TV programme some time back a former MD of the KESC had bluntly stated
that the KESC management was ‘misguiding the public’ and that the present power
crisis was administrative and financial and not technical. “The management is
not spending any money for the purchase of furnace oil. The generating units are
not running at full capacity and power is not being purchased from IPPs as per
their full capacity. As such, the gap between supply and demand has widened,
leading to the worst loadshedding the city has ever faced.”
In 1994, line losses due to theft, outdated distribution system, etc., were 30
per cent. But instead of reducing these losses, the KESC failed to take
appropriate action and now, according to experts, these losses have increased to
over 40 per cent.
Even past and present civilian and military governments had also ignored the
problem and had taken a quick-fix solution by allowing the importation of IPP
plants, which turned out to be the mother of all scams.
No doubt, there is no magic wand that can fix the power crisis, but there are
workable solutions given below, which we had presented to the Supreme Court
also, which, if enforced with zero tolerance policy, could help reduce
loadshedding in the country.
There should be staggered holidays for industries, offices and shopping areas
and malls. Industries should introduce two 10-hour shifts. All shopping malls,
wedding halls, hotels, restaurants, parks, etc., should close by 10pm or use
generators. All billboards’ lights, neon signs, etc., should be switched off by
10 pm or run on generators.
The KESC should launch, with the help of law enforcers, action against bill
defaulters, whose payable amount exceeds Rs50,000.
However, this action is only workable if all stakeholders are taken on board and
include senior members of the FPCCI, KCCI, Small Traders Association, others
and, of course, the KESC.
Until consumers also play there due role as responsible citizens, Karachi will
continue to suffer loadshedding and face a long, hot summer.