By Qamar Bashir
The nation is on the edge of turmoil. Unlike those who were part of the disgraceful
events on May 9th and come from wealthy backgrounds, the current protestors
taking to the streets nationwide belong to a segment that has little to lose. Even if
they face punishment or imprisonment, their circumstances are such that they have
already depleted their savings to cover hefty electricity bills, school fees, and basic
necessities. Now, all they have left is their diminishing sense of self, with children
crying due to lack of food, clothing, shelter, and a safe haven. These individuals
are burdened with sorrowful and anguished spouses who struggle to provide food
and drink for their crying, underdressed children. Meanwhile, the husbands return
home weary and disheveled, without anything to bring back.
A significant number among them are choosing to embrace darkness within their
homes, reminiscent of an era long past, where concerns about shelter, clothing,
education, electricity, gas, water, computers, cell phones, and other such essentials
of modern life fade into insignificance.
Their protest is not solely directed at the issue of exorbitant electricity bills; rather,
it stems from the collective sense that our society has deprived them of the basic
right to exist. For them, life is not a source of joy but an enduring state of anguish
and suffering, devoid of any promising future or relief.
Only a small number of nations worldwide have faced the extraordinary
circumstance where their entire leadership had to seek assistance from the IMF for
bailout funds amounting to a mere billion dollars. Unfortunately, these financial
resources were quickly appropriated by the privileged upper class, all the while
shifting the responsibility of repayment onto the shoulders of the most
economically disadvantaged individuals within the community. Through this
course of action, their fundamental right to survival was heartlessly stripped away.
The interim prime minister, operating under a limited mandate and constrained by
time, displayed visible empathy and distress in response to the cries of the
impoverished echoing throughout the nation. In response, he convened a meeting
involving all relevant departments to explore potential solutions.
However, during this meeting, the well-to-do elite with substantial incomes,
dressed in expensive, immaculate suits, conversing fluently in English, arrived in
chauffeur-driven luxury vehicles. Instead of offering practical resolutions, would
have inundated the caretaker prime minister with meticulously prepared
presentations, accompanied by a barrage of persuasive statistics and data, much of
which was likely fabricated. They skillfully diverted the attention of the prime
minister from the issue at hand.
These individuals would have contended that the rising prices were a result of the
populace's own actions, asserting that electricity theft, nonpayment of bills, meter
tampering, and similar practices were responsible for the escalating costs. They
must have urged stern measures against these practices, effectively deflecting
blame away from systemic factors and placing it onto the struggling populace.
They would have conveyed to the prime minister that addressing the issue of line
losses necessitates a comprehensive overhaul of our antiquated, outdated, and
malfunctioning transmission infrastructure. They will stress the urgency of
adopting modern technology and upgrading transmission lines, grid stations, and
switches. However, this transformation demands a substantial financial
commitment, amounting to billions of dollars, a resource we currently lack.
They must have advised the prime minister to amass the essential funds for this
ambitious endeavor of completely revamping our nation's transmission system;
their proposition would have involved a heightened imposition of taxes. Their
rationale for this tax surge rests on the premise that such an increase would yield
the necessary financial resources to address the costs linked to the comprehensive
infrastructure upgrade. Additionally, it would facilitate the recruitment of extra
workforce members vital for the successful execution of the new system.
Charged with the vital mission, the prime minister has entrusted them with the
responsibility of formulating a comprehensive array of solutions—ranging from
short-term remedies to long-term strategies—to alleviate the burdensome weight of
electricity bills. However, the reality stands stark: no amount of remedies can bring
about a substantial change if we persist within the confines of the current
electricity system.
The call to action extends beyond mere reforms; it necessitates the creation of an
entirely novel para system for electricity generation. This paradigm shift is
imperative to sidestep the inertia and inefficiency of our nation's prevailing,
outdated, and unresponsive infrastructure. Through this audacious initiative,
individuals will be granted the empowerment to govern their own electricity
consumption, steering towards a future of responsiveness and compassion.
Numerous nations have already embarked on this path, establishing systems that
safeguard their citizens from the financial burdens that often accompany traditional
energy models. The transformation we seek requires us to envision a responsive,
humane, and citizen-centric energy infrastructure—one that places the reins of
control directly in the hands of the people. By embracing this forward-looking
vision, we not only pave the way for financial relief but also lay the foundation for
a more equitable and progressive society.
Across the globe, nations are increasingly transitioning away from electricity
generated by fossil fuels and even nuclear energy. The recent remarkable
advancements in the development of cost-effective and efficient solar cells have
brought about a transformative shift in power production. Responsible and
responsive governments have introduced a variety of initiatives aimed at reducing
the electricity expenses for household consumers.
