ROLE OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO CONSEVE ELECTRICITY

At present our country Pakistan is facing shortage 6500 MW of electricity which is about 32 % short of demand, the reasons are complex. According to daily Dawn on October 17 (2022) Pakistan is facing electricity crises which leads to load shedding as everyone knows that Government has its own interests whether of power or political resulting in long hours of load shedding in country which varies from 8 to 12 hours per day and as now electricity is basic necessity of life not a luxury it effects every aspect of life. Poor governance with least investment and least botheration for people with huge corruption by power segment employees with no accountability on both sides are also some factors. One important factor is line losses which is 8% globally but in Pakistan it is 17% which is more than Srilanka (11%) & Bangladesh (11%) the reason behind is technical inefficiency and theft and this is almost one fifth of energy generated and lost in way before delivered to end user In night it disturbs sleep and if one can not sleep properly after a laborious day how he can work efficiently on next morning similarly school going children become irritable and those working in offices are unable to concentrate efficiently further the same viscous circle starts as during working hours no electricity is available except in very much sophisticated offices where there are stand by Generators. Similarly in public hospitals due to load shedding no electricity as if there are stand by generators the supply is limited due to multiple reasons same like corruption in budget allocated for fuel for generators is utilized for personal and even during times when Operation Theatres are running there is no electricity and who suffers both who are working in OT & Patients sometimes due to unavailability of electricity many operations are postponed but no accountability. Even when we visit small markets due to unviability of electricity the shop keepers are frustrated especially in this hot whether similarly the customers which is effecting the business. Policies are made but not implemented as first Energy Efficiency policy was notified in 2006 but did not delivered efficiently rather five times transferred from one ministry to other. Energy Efficiency is as using least energy to provide same product or service such as lighting, Heating & Transportation. Both Government and we as a Nation has to play our role as this short fall resulting in long hours of load shedding is to be considered as National emergency as it has a direct impact on macroeconomic stability . The most effective and with quick response to this crises government has to take steps to demand side. Houses should be monitored to use Minimum Energy Performing Standard appliances like Motors ,lighting, ACS Refrigerators which will help both sides as less electricity consumption and less billing cost. In low income houses we see that only Bulbs & fans are there but they are those which consume more light ,these should be encouraged to replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs which will save 80% of energy and fans with a 3 star (Pakistan Energy Label) fans which will save 50% energy as compared to old fans . The question here is that how to implement this ,it is possible that through Public procurement Government should help people and the cost should be adjusted in monthly installments through bills. Further the government should launch a National Emergency Conservation Campaign which should encourage everyone to feel responsibility to take no cost measures such as setting the ACS at 26 C especially in malls ,hotels & offices using natural lightening, teaching people to unplug the electric appliances while not in use especially the mobile chargers Laptops & Computers . As an average home has dozens of items plugged in at any given time and no one is aware that it consumes 75% of electricity even when they are on. In fact this Phantom Power (Stand By )adds up to 10% of homes energy. Though Pakistan is one of luckiest country in which sun shines for 365 days but unfortunately we don’t take benefit from it as in whole world the natural energy is used more especially for business where markets open early morning and close before sunset but well said The Defense Minister Khawaja Asif that our markets open at 1Pm (I think at 3 Pm) and close at 1 am means we use electricity to beat darkness of night in markets therefore government has announced to close markets at 8 pm ,Marriage halls at 10 pm and restaurants at 10 pm this will conserve about 3500 Mw with 62 billion rupees also and this will help Government to control load shedding .other steps are also taken by Government as to manufacturing of energy efficient bulbs and fans ( Business Recorder 10th June 2023). But still business community is opposing this decision of early closure of markets the reason behind is unknown as we observed that during Lockdown in Covid 19 Pandemic the markets were opened early morning and closed by 5 to 6 pm except medical stores and Milk shops every one organized to complete their groceries in this duration even those who were coming from villages to towns used to come in early morning and go back to their homes during day light and the police was taking actions against those who were not obeying orders so if we say that this can easily be implemented. Pakistan is the country in which those who do not steel electricity has to pay for those who use illegal electricity in terms of detention bills. In most of rural areas and kachi abadis the electricity connection are given illegally in which the employees of Wapda is involved and to show their presence and honesty just do raid and disconnect the supply take away the wires, get photo sessions ,take media coverage and the same wires are sold to same people after few hours .You can observe it while passing from roads. The women in these areas Iron clothes of nearby bungalows every house earn 5 to 6 thousand per month from this but do not have electricity connection and Kundas are there ,this consumption is naturally adjusted in the bills who pay honestly. You can observe that even in Bungalows and posh areas the bulbs in their roofs 7& garages are not even shut of at any time because they also do not pay properly and those who pay take care of these small things this is also wastage of electricity. If we say government is corrupt and inefficient as a citizen are we playing our responsibility ,every one is answerable individually in front of Almighty Allah no one will be blamed for any mistake or Sin commented by other so if every one should clean his own part of earth . With these steps we can get rid of long hours of load shedding and at ;east few hours can sleep in night to resume our energy for next day .