Water & Power Authority (WAPDA) was formed in 1958 and was headed by some British era civil servants, who by virtue of their colonial training, were experts in developing a Wapda bureaucracy, with all its perks and privileges for its employees, rather than fulfilling the main purpose for which it was created: developing electricity, generation and using river-water resources, previously suppressed by the colonial powers. They followed the 1910 Electricity Act, which was actually meant to supply power to the privileged classes only instead of the common man and industry. Under this law any stretch of land in a city can be commandeered to pass over it electric lines without any regard to the future expansion needs of the concerned city and nobody is allowed to build any house in that vicinity.
Wapda's bureaucracy, right down to the lineman, is busy in personal benefits made possible by Wapda's monopoly. Wapda authorities have never paid any attention to the future needs of the nation. The result is that there is a constant shortage of 6 to 8 megawatts of electricity in the country necessitating a load shedding of 8 to 18 hours. Although Wapda claims that it has no authority over the 10 regional electric supply companies, including the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), yet every policy and decision has to be cleared by the Chairman Wapda, who seems to be living in colonial times.
Pakistan has a large fleet of white elephants and dinosaur which need to be put to rest once and for all. Electricity generation should be shared by private and public companies while its distribution should be totally privatized. The cheapest sources of electricity should be employed and this policy should be fully supported by state as it involves international created by rich petrol cartels.
MUHAMMAD MOHSIN,
Muzaffargarh, July 10.