The recently signed LNG contract with Qatar may appear to assure improvement in electric supply in the short term but it is an enormously expensive and foreign exchange draining deal. The country is already finding it difficult to deal with circular debt caused mainly by oil imports for Independent Power Producers (IPPs). One hopes there is a 30-day buyer’s remorse clause in the contract and the government can still cancel it. Continuing with this agreement could be disastrous as it locks in the country for 15 years, committing a minimum of $ 1.2 billion a year; this does not appear to include Port Qasim charges, 60 percent of which Pakistan has agreed to absorb. There are additional costs of regasification etc. Altogether, the country could be spending over $ 1.5 billion per year. Even though oil prices are low right now, Pakistan’s balance of trade is running deep in the red and imports are almost double the amount of exports. Had it not been for the nearly $ 20 billion annual home remittances sent by Pakistani workers and professionals from abroad, the country would have defaulted on its foreign obligations many years ago and today the rupee would have been over Rs 1,000 to the dollar, and inflation rampant South American style. Is it not a shame that despite this enormous contribution to their country, overseas Pakistanis are not even given the right to vote? What happens when the oil price goes back up to $ 100 a barrel? This is not a question of if, but when. The Qatar gas price will go up 300 percent; combine that with a higher oil import price and the country will come under enormous financial pressure running to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) once again with a begging bowl and made to swallow borrowing terms that are totally against Pakistan’s interests. The only import that should be considered is natural gas through pipelines so the existing power plants can continue without interruption. Pakistan can also offset some of the import cost from transit earning if pipelines are extended to India or China. Spain produces over 42 percent of its energy needs from alternative sources, including solar and wind. Pakistan, a country with abundant sunshine all year round and a long wind corridor in the coastal areas, is ideally suited to harness these resources rather than relying on expensive fuel imports. But, perhaps, these do not offer kickbacks, so neither this nor the previous government showed any interest in this direction. Unfortunately, even the 10-year Musharraf era was completely barren in energy development. The most logical choice for Pakistan to generate cheap electricity is from mega hydroelectric dams. Smaller dams are being built but their capacity is a drop in the bucket compared to what the country needs. Political leadership, including Mr Musharraf, has shown cowardice in tackling this head on. But now the country cannot afford to kick the can down the road any further. The additional benefit of dams is harnessing the country’s rich water source. Dams will also help regulate the water supply, avoiding floods in high season and increased water supply in low season. The Prime Minister (PM) needs to call a meeting of all Chief Ministers (CMs), key provincial political figures, hydroelectric and population disruption experts in one room and spend as many days as necessary until the reservations of each and every province and political leader are resolved satisfactorily once and for all. If water allocation is fair and just, there is no reason why provinces should continue to oppose the building of mega dams. What is required is political leadership and this leadership needs to deliver, not just make empty gestures. A visionary leader would have asked China and other countries to help with the mass production of solar panels and wind turbines. Pakistan has brilliant scientists and all they need is resources to produce within the country in a relatively short time. If they can produce far reaching missiles and nuclear weapons that make mountains white, who thinks they cannot produce equipment for solar and wind power within the country? The task of creating alternative power generation needs to be taken up on a war footing exactly in the same manner as the nuclear programme was started and pursued throughout the years. The PM should create a special cell comprising of some of our brilliant scientists under his direct leadership. This cell should be tasked to use all resources available, including PAF Kamra, Karachi Shipyard and the Heavy Mechanical Complex etc. to build within the country wind turbines, solar panels and all other equipment required to generate electricity from these sources. In a matter of two years, with proper funding, our scientists are capable of getting power generation up and running and producing thousands of megawatts of electricity, saving the country billions of dollars year after year in import of oil, LNG, coal etc. Pakistani scientists have made great strides before and they will not fail the country now. All that is required is a determined political leadership committed to resolving the country’s energy needs. The author is a political commentator who lives in Toronto, Canada. He blogs Political Beast: http://politicalbeast1.blogspot.ca/