Sir: A few days back, there was a full page advertisement on the back pages of most newspapers. Basically, it showed the locations/cities/towns where people had not paid their electricity bills. There were three lists. One list showed the places where 80 percent consumers had not paid their electricity bills. Another list showed that 50 percent had not paid. And the third list carried figures about 20 percent people who had not paid their electricity bills. Surprisingly, I did not see Rawalpindi or Islamabad in any of the three lists. It makes you wonder how many of those people who block roads and hold sit-ins, actually pay their electricity bills. It seems that people think it is their right to get non-stop electricity from the government without paying for the service. When the Warsak Dam was built in the mid-1950s, people in certain parts of FATA were given electricity at a flat rate of Rs 50 per house. Since then it has been very difficult to get the people of FATA to pay the electricity bills at the current rate. The blame lies with all governments that remained so casual in collecting the due amount. And the best part is that many government departments are also major defaulters.No business can remain in business if the accrued amounts are not paid in time. Mobile phone companies have a good policy. You can continue to call out as long as your post paid and prepaid have balances in them. It is time that the government should develop a strict policy regarding the payment of electricity bills. Yes, there will be strikes and attacks on offices and gird stations of the power companies. Yes the politicians and government officials will feel the heat but a stand will have to be taken, otherwise there will be a total breakdown in the supply of electricity in the years to come. Is there any other option other than going to the World Bank and other lending agencies for loans?SYED HUSSEIN EL-EDROOSIslamabad