Daily Times

Just Imagine, a life without electricity, developments with crisis, future with extreme insecurity in terms of energy, and rapidly growing climatic dangers. Let’s think wisely and look over present.

Our economy is becoming toddle day by day. As external debts on Pakistan increased to 95097 USD (US Dollar) million in 2018, whereas it was 66395 USD million in 2015, 68452 USD million in 2016, 85052 USD million in 2017. Such an all-time high figure in 2018 don’t let to make a demand for any dept from IMF and the World Bank for the expenditure of mega projects of Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dams.

On the other hand, Pakistan is in trouble to meet energy requirements. Currently electricity shortfall is 4,000 to 5,000 MW with 3 to 4-hour outage in urban and more than it in rural areas. Pakistan energy crisis has troubling the implementation of a fragile economy. Local and foreigner companies are citing electricity deficit.

As per demand, the energy production is not in a healthy proportion to population. The current population of Pakistan is 201, 695,040 as of Friday September 28, with a daily growth rate of 100 on the average, ranked world 6th largest community based on the latest United Nation (UN) estimates. Such a figure demands a crucial attention over energy production rate, which must be competing day by day growing population rate.

According to a recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan is world third country facing a keen shortage of water. Researchers prefigure the Pakistan as a most water stressed country by the year 2040 in Asia. Global Innovation Index 2018(GII) projection indicates that by 2040, the world will require up to 30 percent more energy than it needs today. By 2018, per capita annual water availability is 1017 cubic meter which was 1500 cubic meter in 2009 according to IMF. Significant portion of Pakistan’s arable land is irrigated through canal system, but canal water is underpriced, and agriculture based on it, is largely untaxed, IMF said. Water in adequacy in duce a rise in temperature. Environmental expert and researchers alarm that “Heat waves and droughts are a result of climate change”.

Despite of many problems, here is good news. God have gifted Pakistan, with abundant water resources, in the form of rivers flowing down the Himalayas and Karakoram height from world’s largest glaciers. Now what matter is, the serious policies based on good governance and leadership must be framed to translate funds effectively over dams to compete current energy crisis.

Despite of many problems, here is good news. God have gifted Pakistan, with abundant water resources, in the form of rivers flowing down the Himalayas and Karakoram height from world’s largest glaciers. Now what matter is, the serious policies based on good governance and leadership must be framed to translate funds effectively over dams to compete current energy crisis

Keeping in view, issues like, massive dept burden, rapid population growth, challenging energy and water crisis, and horrible climate changes, the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s initiative for fund collection from native and overseas Pakistani is a wise move towards such a huge project. On the appeal of PM Khan and CJ Saqib Nisar, native politicians, businessman and common citizens have started donation, as status of funds is 3 billion PKR by September 11, 2018. The figure is very far from estimated cost, about 14 billion USD for Diamer Basha and about 1.4 billion USD for Mohmand Dams. But unfortunately, many influential political leaders denied from involvement in such project. Their followers too are busy on social media to make a cry against dams due to political unfavoured PTI led government. However, it is an issue on nation level, which can be agreed by mutual table talks by all political parties, apart from making one specific party score.

A publically, nationwide campaign must be started for collecting funds. It is the time, we should take a stand for fund raising — a common national interest, irrespective of political party we casted vote for, sects we favor, and province we belong. All universities and colleges must take a part in such move, where influential students unions may launch a campaign to aware common students and appeal for donations.

For a better tomorrow, you want to leave off to your offspring, donate as much as you can today. Pakistan paindabad.

Researcher of Natural Sciences at Department of Physics, QAU Islamabad. He can be reached on his Email: ik8828903@gmail.com and Twitter: @IMK903

Published in Daily Times, October 26^th 2018.