[For all those who are not aware this is a satirical piece as part of a series called NEWSFLASH (here and here). In this post I have looked at a real DAWN newspaper report on the power crisis in Karachi. Power cuts are a becoming a huge problem throughout the country and according to Pakistani government estimates, generating capacity needs to grow by 50 percent by 2010 in order to meet expected demand. This year will be particularly bad in this regard and even though certain power projects are planned for completion in the near future there is a possibility of a shortage well beyond 2010. ]
Here are some excerpts from a news report in DAWN (19 April 2007) followed by some investigative reporting by MicroPakistan.
KARACHI: Power failures trigger street protests
By A Reporter
KARACHI, April 18: Irate residents of various localities across the city took to the streets on Wednesday and staged protest demonstrations against the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation for failing to provide uninterrupted power supply.
In response to these protests the current KESC chief has said that, ‘Enough is enough!’ Lieutenant General (R) Syed Amjad, who is an expert in most things unrelated to electrical engineering and is paid Rs 1.1 million a month, has called for a protest against the citizens of Karachi.He states that the electricity shortage is due to the wastage of electricity on unnecessary things such as cars with halogen lights, mosque loudspeakers, mobile phones, possibly fireflies, kunda cricket and keeping the light on in public libraries that do not have more than a couple of visitors a day.
KESC employees will sit outside popular bazaars, parks and other public areas to protest against this injustice. Those who will sit beyond regular work hours have been promised overtime by the KESC management.
However, the workers union has decided upon a two-pronged protest.
They will not only be protesting against the people, but also against the KESC management for not providing them with sticks, spanners, cricket bats and golf clubs. Such tools of defence would be used against the angry and, more often than not, violent protestors who turn up at the KESC complaint centres. The employees feel completely unarmed in front of these mobs that can resort to stoning and other acts. They feel unarmed in two ways: lack of weapons and lack of information. When asked for reasons for electricity breakdowns they are as clueless as the next person (in fact at times the customers know more), which leads to assaults from angry mobs.
The KESC management is also lodging a complaint against PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) for making life difficult for them by allowing Indian dramas to be aired. According to the recent surveys electricity usage goes up 15% between 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm when Kasautii Zindagii Kii, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi are aired.
DAWN speculated that the utility company was trying to set new records.
Observers say the power utility is threatening to create new records. While most citizens of Karachi have more or less reconciled themselves to at least a couple of hours of loadshedding daily, residents of DHA, Phase 5 streets off Khayaban-e-Badban say that over the past 24 hours they have braved at least 40 breaks, some a mere five minutes long.
The company has now confirmed that it is indeed aiming for the Guiness Book of World Records and has requested the residents of Khayaban-e-Badban to cooperate and show tolerance. A KESC spokesman said, ‘They must understand that it is not only KESC that will enter the record books, but the whole of Kh-e-Badban as well. We are doing this for the nation. We are aiming for 150 breaks in 24 hours InshAllah.’
DAWN reports MMA’s unique attempt at resolving the problem.
Vexed by prolonged power breakdowns, the Mutahida Majlis Amal has announced that it will hold protest demonstrations after Friday prayers in front of mosques.
Why in front of mosques? That is because KESC has the highest prayers-per-employee rate for any government organization. Why? Because they do not have the luxury of relying on safety procedures and equipment. They rely on luck, chance and, ofcourse, Allah. -MicroPakistan
This is a good article but i need to mension few things here. We being citizens of larger citites like karachi, lahore and other big cities of Pakistan. We should feel our responsibility and try not to consume the electricity that is unnecessary, like there are alot of things that we can notice around us and whenever possible, try to minimize the consumption.
qatra qatra banay samandar.
To the author of this article, this is a good atricle, this increases awareness of what is happening behind the scenes, but I think educating our people in a positive manner so that they may become useful is also a good idea. Think about it