Power sector losses constitute threat to economy: PBIF chief

Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) President Mian Zahid Hussain has expressed concern that the income of an average Pakistani has not increased since 2011, while the tariff of electricity has been increased manifold which is a threat to peace, employment, health, education, society and economy. He said there was not a single country in the world which progressed or reduced poverty while using less electricity than required.
He said power sector losses had emerged as a great threat to society and economy therefore a comprehensive plan was needed to contain it immediately. Mian Zahid Hussain said "power sector losses amount to Rs 360 billion per annum resulting in deficit which is bridged through IMF loans while repayment requires upward revision of tariff which is against the national interests as it has resulted in minimised usage of electricity."
He said there were 1.3 billion people on earth living without electricity while the number of people facing supply disruptions was more than of that. Mian Zahid Hussain said according to available data of the World Bank, per capita consumption in Pakistan stood at 449.25 kilowatt hours (kWh) while an average American consumed 13,240kWh which was almost 29 times more than what was used here. According to WB, there is no country in the world with per capital income over 10,000 dollars where per capita usage of power is less than 3380kWh.
Mian Zahid Hussain said an average person in UK consumed eight times more electricity than in Pakistan and over 90 universities existed there were awarding degrees in energy, alternate energy and sustainable energy sectors which indicated their attention to the issue which was not considered a subject here.
He said providing 3880kWh to a person per year in developing nations would require a 60 percent jump in the global electricity production, adding that per capita consumption of electricity in EU was 2.3 times more than the global average and 2.8 times more than what was consumed in China. The power consumption in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Luxembourg and Iceland was more than the average US consumption therefore the standard of living in those states was a dream for an American, he said.