Once the protests across Punjab became too much to bear, the government of the new prime minister huddled together to address the energy crisis. Promises and meetings resulted in a number of decisions:

The petroleum minister promised to supply 28,000 tons daily to the thermal power producers including the IPPs and Wapda's generation companies (Genco). Earlier in June the furnace oil supplies averaged around 14,300 tons. However, instead of 28,000 the ministry has provided 26,000 from July 1-15.

The government also decided to utilise the Rental Power Plants whose contracts were cancelled by the Supreme Court. They are expected to produce around 185mw electricity. It is still not clear if any progress has been made on this.

A third decision 207 mmcfd gas to the power generation units by diverting it from other sectors. However, only 82 mmcfd has been made available.

The aim of the government was to bring into use around 1,750 MW worth of power generation before Ramazan. And by the additional fuel injection and the RPP's contribution, the ministry of water and power has estimated that total generation would reach 15,745mw by the end of July. None of this is a long term solution but simply fire-fighting.

And this is what the government does each time there is a shortage - borrow more money and increase production or shift resources from other sectors and increase production so that the increased demand can be met for weeks or months till nature kicks in and lends a helping hand. This time too the government's decisions were based on the fact that the monsoons were around the corner. With the rains, the temperatures drop and the generation of cheaper hydel power is enhanced.

The smiles are already starting to appear on the faces of water and power officials.

When the emergency meetings that were held, the demand and supply gap was above 8,000 megawatts; it is now around 4,100 MW.

The decrease is due to the drop in the demand by around 1000 MW as well as the significant increase in hydel generation which surged by more than 1,200 MW in one month to more than 5,000 MW. The latter is thanks to the higher water releases from the Tarbela dam, Mangla dam and the increased flow at Ghazi Barotha and Chashma.

No wonder then that the observers are very critical of the government.

“This is like playing ping pong. Depending on whomever is protesting, the government diverts its gas or petroleum resources to the protestors to temporarily address the problem. But it needs some tangible solutions,” said Ghiyas Paracha, chairman All Pakistan CNG Association.

The petroleum minister agrees as he has no idea who will be paying for the extra furnace oil being provided.

"Who would be paying for this additional supply of furnace oil?" asked Dr Asim Hussain, petroleum minister. "We have done our best to generate more electricity but ultimately the bills have to be cleared."

The recent cabinet committee on energy was informed that power sector needed to pay up Rs477 billion to its various creditors and needed more financial support from finance ministry.

But at the moment no one cares about this as they simply want to get through the summers. After then, the firefighting will shift to gas because the people of Pakistan will need gas to heat their homes and the air conditioners will be off.

"After 2-3 months the pressure will shift towards the gas companies," said an official of water and power ministry.

And SNGPL and the SSGC will be in the eye of the storm as the water and power people take it easy.