Aur bijli chali gayee!

The last year or so has seen Pakistan running out of its energy resources thanks to our ever increasing energy consumption against the stagnant energy production resources.It is an obvious fact that we haven't been able to produce energy in par with the requirements of our increased population over the years plus the expanding manufacturing units.

The blame lies entirely on our policy makers who have totally failed to chalk out an unpretentious energy production policy which could effectively reduce if not totally diminish the situation that we are witnessing now a days ; routine electricity breakdowns for major parts of the day and the subsequent stoppages of hundreds of manufacturing units throughout the country. True, the Kalabagh dam strategy is awaiting national consensus which according to many can solve all our energy problems but there are many who conceive it a plan totally unfeasible given the apprehension that it can be hazardous for both Sind and NWFP. Moreover there should have been an equal emphasis on smaller dams which are producing great results the world over.

Now, as the proverbial dying man tries to catch by a straw, we are seeing this organization jumping on to the scene; Enercon, promoting energy conservation through difference campaigns. A commendable effort indeed but with the question; why so late? Had there been a sound strategy of energy consumption earlier, we might not have run so much short of it.

As a cricket crazy nation we can sacrifice electricity for our industrial units, hospitals, study and research centers but not a floodlight cricket match. Yes, it is indeed an honor for us to gather each and every current of our dying electric resources and provide a perfect sunny environment in the ground and play a team like Bangladesh who've graciously touched down our land in a time when everybody else was shying away. There were a hint or two of fun in the irony, last night when those towering floodlights in the Gaddafi Stadium went off leaving all and sundry in a perfect gloom giving a picture of a typical Pakistani blacked out eventide.

Thumbs up PCB! We're dying for those floodlit matches!