Energy crisis and the new govt!

AS THE newly elected democratic regime has now settled down in the federal capital with its heavy as well as attractive manifesto ensuring solution to the multiple crisis especially in energy sector, but the situation with reference to the power outages seems to be a distant dream. Uptill the last day of canvassing of the last months general elections, almost every major political force had been claiming to resolve the power crisis within different timeframes. Now as the elections are over, government has changed in the country but the crisis is still there with its all monster, at least, no tangible stance has come out of the power corridors regarding overcoming the energy crisis. Fresh studies on Pakistans growth situation conclude that lack of commitment as well as long-term policies in addition to politically influenced decisions are the main predicaments in the way of national development. According to the prevalent situation, Pakistan requires up to 15000MW power per day, while estimates suggest the national demand for power would reach approximately 20,000 MW per day by the year 2020 as the power consumption is constantly on the rise at a ratio of ten per cent per annum. Presently, it can produce about 11,500 MW per day, however, the production normally remains 7,000 to 8,000 MW per day thus registering a power shortfall of over 7,000 MW electricity. Last two or three decades are witness to the bitter experience that certain mega reservoirs projects have failed to see the dawn due to either lack of political consensus or non-availability of international donor. Experts say that if both factors are resolved even then these projects would take several years to complete. At this stage, the authorities need to focus on a short-term planning to overhaul the faulty system of power distribution in order to overcome the ever-increasing line losses, ensure recovery of billions of rupees outstanding dues from defaulters and seize the free power supply to WAPDA employees without paying a single penny to the national exchequer against this facility. In the wake of water shortage for hydel power generation, the government should put more focus on exploring alternate energy resources. Solar energy, wind energy and coal are the alternate options for having cheap and environment-friendly power generation. Though some initiatives have been taken to promote the alternate energy resources, yet more serious approach on the part of the policy makers is still desperately needed as the power supply-demand in the country is yawning with the each passing day. Until and unless the authorities end their slumber and rise to realize the gravity of the persistent energy situation in the country, the crisis would continue hampering the national development, agriculture growth, and common power consumers, who are the ultimate sufferers of this whole awful episode.