Frequent power failures in the city are no more a news as the people have learnt to live without the so-called "facility" provided by the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC). Despite growing protests, some times violent, in the hot and humid summer, the KESC authorities are unmoved and failed to provide much needed relief to the people.
The situation has changed the mental attitudes of the people. After passing sleepless nights, they are unable to concentrate on their jobs and get irritated even over minor issues.
Many seek 'psychiatrics' help for the remedy of a sudden change in their behaviour. Recently, medical experts, appearing in a television discussion on health were of the view that the civic problems are one of the major causes of blood pressure, diabetes and hypertention.
Frequent power failures have added to the misery and is playing an ugly role in the domestic and married lives of people. While people brave the hot and humid season, the KESC's inability to mends its ways has proved to be a "windfall" to traders involved in selling UPS and power generators.
But the question is that how many of the 15 million population of the city can afford to buy the UPS and power generators. The power failure is becoming a big crisis for citizens, under the circumstances they are unable to tackle the several other problems in a particular way.
The country is facing an energy crisis due to lack to unavailability of using natural resources, despite the fact that the country has them. The development works in the country continue at a slow pace. The government must complete the construction work in time to minimise the disturbances, which result in the accidents and traffic jams.
It is an important point to note that the government despite it's efforts, fails to meet the basic needs of the nation. So its surprising to note how it is possible for the government to provide basic necessities of life, particularly water and power, to the newly constructed high-rise buildings, fly-over and roads.
Now, when the life is becoming miserable day by day, problems should be solved within the desired period and to save people from rising frustration. But in fact, instead of solving old problems in time, new difficulties come up with the passage of time.
In search of a golden chance, the people involved in the UPS and power generator business, start minting money by selling their products at nearly double the price. Who is behind these unfavourable circumstances?

Copyright Business Recorder, 2007

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