Daily Times

There always has been a huge electricity shortfall in Pakistan, which can be called one of the biggest hurdles in line with country’s socio-economic advancement. Around 80 million dwellers of Pakistan’s more than 40,000 villages are without power.

Why do we still think that electricity load-shedding will come to an end automatically across the country one day? Why are we waiting for any miracle to happen? This would be like waiting for hell to freeze over. We have possible alternates to tackle this most bizarre issue by fostering alternate/renewable energy.

Globally, it has been declared that the adoption of this most valuable technology is environmentally friendly, as well as economical for everybody. But the government’s tedious approach is upsetting the applecart of making Pakistan a 24-hour solar or wind power run country.

Where people do not have money to eat two times a day, how can they afford to buy alternate energy systems for their households? This is a tragic aspect of the story, but the solution is that they need government support to uplift their degraded existence.

Awareness among communities regarding the significance and adoption of alternate energy sources is next to nil in Pakistan

Sensitisation among the communities regarding the significance and adoption of alternate energy is next to nil in many regions across Pakistan. Some non-governmental agencies have spread some useful knowledge among the rural masses, which has helped those communities.

Even in today’s modern age, there are thousands of villages situated in almost every province of Pakistan which are without electricity. How these inhabitants ignored by the state are dwelling is a perplexing tale, but it is a fact that they are living there for years in the same condition. They have altered their lifestyles according to the facilities they have at their disposal, but it does not mean that the government keeps turning the blind eye over their fundamental human rights.

The daily routine of dwellers in such dark villages kicks off from sunrise and winds up before sunset. In the long span of spending a series of clueless dark nights, they have paid the price too.

Their desperation for electricity can be judged from the following incident. Last summer, I visited a remote village of Thar. As our vehicle stopped in the village, we were surrounded by a crowd of people in no time. Everyone standing beside us had only one request: ‘Kindly allow me to charge my cell phone in the vehicle’.

The government should initiate small loan schemes for the inhabitants of such lightless villages for buying solar household solutions. The youth of these villages is eager to be called educated. The remotest villages do have a talented workforce, but due to the unavailability of power in their villages, they are unable to showcase their talent to the world, and that is the prime reason for their deprivation and poverty.

Sindh’s coastal belt districts, which include Thatta, Sujawal and Badin and Tharparkar are considered worst due to the unavailability of electricity in many villages. Besides the government, these areas have been home to many nongovernmental organisations since long, but the welfare activities have been abysmal.

In Sindh’s coastal belt areas, sufficient wind (sea breeze) exists which can be utilised to power every coastal village of Sindh. Pakistan is a sunny country — the sun rays can also be used to light up a good number of villages across Sindh. Fortunately, we do have one of the world’s largest coal deposits which are currently being utilised to produce electricity.

Until we don’t bank on sustainable solutions, we would never find long-term outcomes. We have to admit that Pakistan’s wellbeing and prosperity is directly affiliated with its masses.

The writer is a freelancer based in Badin, Sindh and can be reached at abbaskhaskheli110@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, April 27^th 2018.