THE country is faced with another power crisis as the energy shortfall now exceeds 5,000 megawatts. There have been reports of up to 12 hours of loadshedding in most cities across the country, whereas the situation is even worse in rural areas.

A primary reason for power shortage is the lack of fuel for power-generation. Pakistan’s dependence on imported energy has become unbearable for the government as international fuel prices have reached an all-time high, which is also affecting the overall economy. Is the government exploring other viable options to overcome the energy crisis?

The government should focus on indigenous resources, like hydel, renewable energy and the abundantly available Thar coal that needs to be extracted to produce inexpensive energy for the country. This can help the country become self-sufficient in energy without depending too much on imported fuel.

Usama Ghulam Rasool
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2022