IN what could be termed a significant announcement to address the chronic issues of our energy sector, Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar in a tweet said that an investment of 111 billion rupees will be made in the power transmission system in a bid to reducing power shortage in the country.
This investment will increase the capability of the national grid system to transmit 28,750 megawatts and 31,500 megawatts in the summer of 2023 and 2024 from the present 23,633 megawatts.
The previous government mainly focused on the electricity generation projects and increased the installed generation capacity in Pakistan to approximately 28,000 megawatts.
This was a great achievement given the electricity shortage faced by the country at that time.
However, it is unfortunate that no arrangement was made to upgrade the transmission and distribution system in order to transmit the additional electricity to the consumers.
Most recently the 660 KV high voltage direct current Matiari-Lahore transmission line completed in cooperation with Chinese friends was inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan, and on the very first day, the project saved the country from a major breakdown by protecting the transmission, dispatch and distribution systems from a possible cascading effect due to tripping at Jamshoro.
This really underlines the dire need for immediate upgradation of our transmission system in order to reduce line losses and provide the electricity in an interrupted manner to the consumers as well as ultimately reduce the flow of circular debt.
As the Minister for Energy has unveiled the investment plan for the power sector, it must be ensured that upgradation projects also see light of the day within the stipulated period.
Electricity is the wheel that drives all facets of our daily life such as production, consumption, communication, transportation and routine financial transactions.
If we want to take forward the country, the government will have to address all the energy-related issues.
A full-fledged drive should immediately be launched against those not paying their bills or stealing it so that those paying their bills honestly are not forced to pay for the wrongdoings of others.
Uncovered electric wires hanging from lampposts in streets and roads pose threat to human lives. A plan should also be prepared to shift these wires underground.
