Equivalent and sustainable electricity distribution in the country remained an extra special task since Pakistan has the complete range of resources and reserves to not only meet the required electricity supply and demand needed for the countrymen but can make its advancement for the benefits and purpose of economic development and growth and this only can be possible by making true and fair policies now and for the future. The past governments and the present has taken number of measures to reduce blackouts and frequent breakdowns with creating notable addition in electricity production but the said miseries are still common including time to time tariff raise pushing the common man into extreme hate and depression as electricity is the most useful need of daily life now and onward. Fortunately, almost all Pakistanis have access of electricity, however, the fair distribution with higher rates hang about an anxiety.
To see reasons behind all these concerns and hindrance into power/electricity distribution one can easily understand of the mismanagement in the country especially by those who sit at the helm of affairs or we take actions on the black sheep pushing back Pakistan progress and working to dishonor the image of the country. There are number of governments and individuals at the higher ranks worked in the past for the betterment of this sector end now the current government’s task is to do its best efforts for overhaul of the sector in meeting speedy recovery and likewise see advancement but the continuous political stability with misunderstanding and disobedience of the officials and workers making the situation from bad to worse.
Under the observation, country’s electricity is generated, transmitted, distributed by two main public sector firms first is Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) which fulfilling needs of whole of the country except Karachi. A mega city Karachi — the only main business hub of Pakistan — comes under the authority of K-Electric including there are around 42 independent power producers (IPPs) contributing significantly for the electricity generation for the country. Although Pakistan’s electricity sector is an emergent market, it is long due that the matter of balancing the country’s supply against the demand had remained a largely unsettled subject. The country is still going through significant challenges in revamping its supply and generation networks. The problems of lack of efficiency, rising demands for energy, growing shortages and worsening outages along with pending bills payment are regular problems and promptly to be confronted. revolutionize
Since the existence of Pakistan, its electricity sector remained the developing market but its present infrastructure and power plants contributing slowly and immediately to be revolutionized. The main source of energy generation in Pakistan is of hydel power but the time has come to boost the shift to other alternative sources of energy like solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, coal and waste energy as these sources of energy have even higher potential. According to last Economic Survey 2019-20, the country’s installed capacity to generate electricity has moved upto 37,402MW by June 2020 which was at 22, 812MW in June 2013, presenting the raise in growth of 64 percent. The maximum total demand coming from residential and industrial estates stands at nearly 25,000 MW, whereas the transmission and distribution capacity is stalled at approximately 22,000MW. This leads to a deficit of about 3,000MW when the demand peaks in summer. This additional 3,000MW required cannot be transmitted even though the peak demand of the country is well below its installed capacity of 37,402MW. The study shows that during fiscal year 2019-20 total electricity generation was standing at around 134,745 GWh as this amount was contributing the total including the hydroelectric 29 percent, natural gas 31 percent, furnace oil 14 percent, coal 16 percent, nuclear 4 percent, renewal (solar and wind) 5 percent and others (bagasse, waste heat recovery etc) merely one percent. Moreover, when we see the back studies, the consumption of electricity during the year 2015-16 was around 90,000 GWh where we exported 6.01 percent of electricity and imported 49 percent of electricity, while 2019 report by NEPRA (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) shows that electricity consumption per capita stands at 529kWh/capita on PEPCO (Pakistan Electric Power Company) and 892 on K-Electric system.
The growing population, and the calamity with heavy rains and floods causing failure to the power plants production and some time damaging the whole plant, increases the energy demand and heavily putting country’s exchequer into losses by installing new plants and investment. There are reports that the Pakistan authorities soon taking steps for governance and sector reforms and looking forward for both local and foreign investments in the sector. There are also reports that number of measures has taken for the reforming under the WAPDA and K-Electric for the sustainable supply of energy.
Pakistan electricity sector is a very emerging market but the existing infrastructure in company with energy resources do not fulfilling the required demand which very much likely need a shift to the other sources for generating electricity and to carry the burden need prompt investments. Currently, the available resources are 60,00MW hydel, 34000MW wind, 300 million barrel of crude oil reserves, 105 trillion cubic feet of shale gas and coal reserves and there are untapped reserves of 9 billion barrel. Nature blessed Pakistan has all resources and reserves to meet the every need of the country men, especially of this power advancement but only true governance and steps of reforming the management will help bear fruits. It is must need to be a focus on foreign investment in the energy sector for the best utilization and exploration of the available resources, as these steps helpful to meet energy demand and supply and likewise make the country’s beleaguered energy sector institutions and machinery into a resourceful units.
Finally, I will like to add, that it is an old saying ‘the depth of your struggle will determine the height of your success’ and having the present leadership of defiant Prime Minister Imran Khan who has the sign of optimism and his mettle and spirit of rightly initiatives will stay and help shape change this sector for the image building of the country, though he needs more time, to guide the country in the every sectors and under the present pressure time of coronavirus pandemic, which has a devastating economic downward spell around the world and Pakistan, still we have trust in him.