ONCE again bureaucracy has come up with the failed measure of advancing the clock by an hour to save power. Daylight saving time is of bureaucracy, by bureaucracy and for bureaucracy as it helps them to get away with half working day.

It has been established worldwide advancement of clock does not save power. In Europe and the US clocks are advanced in summer for one hour to compensate for short winter days and not to save power.

In Pakistan the difference between winter days and summer days is not too long and does not require DST.

Many years ago Kazakhstan gave up advancement of the clock and recently the Russian Federation has decided that the clock will not be advanced after this year.

China, Japan and India do not advance the clock. India tried 20 years ago but abandoned it soon after.

The US and Japan too found out that DST does not save energy. In 2005 Indiana (US) adopted DST in the hope of saving energy, but at the end of three years it found it had spent additionally millions of dollars due to DST.

Pakistan tried it in 2002 but gave it up in 2003 because it did not save power at all. On the contrary DST played havoc with the routine life, disrupting prayer timings, as well as Ramazan timings.

Ninety-nine per cent of our schoolchildren use public transport. As a result of time change, schools will start at 7.00am which will create immense difficulties for children using public transport. DST will create a big harrasement for parents and children.

Contrary to all claims by the power ministry, DST does not save any power. Long and repeated power shutdowns are being engineered in major industrial and commercial cities to force the government to adopt DST. The country has the capacity to produce more than 17,000 MW as against the demand of 14,000 MW while the governement is generating 10,000 MW. The fault lies with the government and not with the clock.

The rich and famous of Pakistan, including industry and commercial establishments, are stealing power. Stop power theft and the problem will be solved.

Urgent action on the Thar coal project will solve our power problem with surplus power for decades to come, according to our eminent scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand.

KHAWAJA FARIDUDDIN Karachi