Pakistan's looming energy crisis.

Byline: ZUHAIB KHOKHAR

A detailed evaluation of causes, impacts and its remedies

There is no energy crisis, only a crisis of ignorance

(Buckminster Fuller)

Energy is defined as the capacity or ability of a system to do work. In simple words, it can be best described as the ability to work. During the day, sun gives out light and heat energy, whereas during the evening or night, street lights are the light givers. The food that people eat gives energy too. Human beings use that energy to do work and play. When a car drives by, it is powered by gasoline, which is also one of the types of energy. Energy can be found in many forms such as light energy, wind energy, heat energy, mechanical energy, chemical energy, physical energy, atomic or nuclear energy and expected to get more. These forms of energy can be transformed and transmitted with one another.

Energy crisis is considered as the major issue confronted by Pakistan. Undoubtedly, every country is facing energy crisis and hence it is an international issue, but Pakistan is witnessing unprecedented energy crisis. If energy crisis is not handled properly, it will cause server adverse impacts on the citizens, societies and economy of the country. It will also aggravate the situation and will jeopardize the lives of average people extremely. Therefore, it is needed to implement the remedial initiatives in order to hedge the looming crisis of energy, otherwise darkness will become the fate of the country. Then there will be no use of crying over spilt milk.

Every problem contains various reasons behind itself. Likewise, energy crisis is an issue and there are number of reasons and causes for energy crisis prevailing in Pakistan. One of the most prominent reasons of energy crisis is the poor policies of previous government to tackle energy crisis. Usage of energy is increasing rapidly day by day, but the production of energy remained stagnant in comparison with the use of energy. The government needs to tackle this problems as soon as possible, but it seems that energy production is categorically excluded from the priorities of the government. Ultimately, this ignorance along-with the poor policies result in energy crisis in Pakistan.

Another reason behind the looming energy crisis is the lack of consensus among the politicians to build new dams and water reservoirs. Pakistan has not built any water reservoir since 1960s, and this disunity among politicians and parliamentarians in terms of constructing new dams is further aggravating and exacerbating the situation. The parliamentarians are badly divided and they do not allow new dams to be constructed. Kalabagh dam is the best example in this regard. The politicians and parliamentarians say that this dam cannot be built until they are alive. However, if this dam is constructed, it will not only reduce the energy crisis, but also it will safeguard from the future floods. But unfortunately, the politicians are so disunited and badly divided that they don't allow the construction of dams, and resultantly it causes energy crisis in the country.

In addition to it, Pakistan government is unable to collect the required funds to launch new power projects. The lack of required funds to launch new power projects is contributing a lot to the energy crisis. The economic condition of Pakistan is not up to the mark. And since the economic condition of Pakistan is not good, therefore, it is unable to acquire the funds for new power projects. Budget deficit also hinders in the collection of funds. According to Economic Survey of Pakistan, the Pakistan's fiscal deficit is Rs.1.13 trillion in 2021. Because of high fiscal deficit, Pakistan is having problems to collect the specified amount of funds to start over new power projects. Because of all these factors, energy crisis in Pakistan is inevitable.

Another factor that contributes to the energy crisis in the less use of modern technology. It is clear that modern technology has become a dire need for making progress nowadays, but Pakistanis are not using advanced...