ISLAMABAD - As another New Year’s sun rises, clouds of darkness await in store for the hapless masses who are in a fix whether to celebrate a new year or to mourn the beginning of another era of sufferings.
The experts in the Ministry of Water and Power gave no hope that energy crisis was going to end in year 2012 rather they said “we don’t see any let-up in power crisis several years ahead if these are decision makers who are taking decisions at the moment.” The sources told TheNation that the government, over the whole period of its rule, has started no significant project. They said how one could demand results without taking initial steps? Sadly no hope can be given to the masses as per realities on the ground. It is pertinent to mention here that 2011 was the worst year of loadshedding in the history of Pakistan and the experts believe that the menace of loadshedding was not going to end even in year 2012 and so on under the present kind of government and decision makers.
Experts believe that the only thing needed is the will of government as the country has a huge potential to overcome energy issue within a very short time. But they said this kind of determination will cost the leaders in financial terms and they will not be able to mint money.
Dams definitely take a long time for completion but there is huge scope in Pakistan for wind energy and the government by taking special interest can speed up development of the said sector. But it is also necessary to build dams for the long-term cheaper energy solution for the masses. The government has already, with the start of a new year, given the gift to masses by increasing gas prices and they should be ready for the raise in electricity prices too.
The work on a hydel project, the government was using as a card, could not be started, and that is too would complete not before 2016. Moreover the only wind energy projects are going to generate 1,500 megawatt electricity not prior to 2013 and till that time energy demand would have been increased as well, the sources said.