President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have rightly voiced their concern over slow movement towards establishing new power projects in the country, particularly in view of our spiraling energy deficit. (Incidentally, despite all the concern expressed by successive governments over this issue, including the present one, there has been no addition to the country's power generating capacity over the past 10 years!).
The President has now directed the relevant agencies and departments to draw up a comprehensive roadmap and also set definitive implementation timelines, in keeping with the country's energy mounting requirements.
It cannot be denied that the present energy crisis has arisen essentially out of a mismatch between the formulation of policies (of which there has been no paucity) and their timely implementation by successive governments. There is a perception that Pakistan's overwhelming dependence on oil and gas for meeting its industrial and household needs is far too high at 80 percent, and that a more rational mix involving use of coal and nuclear energy needs to be evolved.
There are vast reserves of high quality coal in Sindh that can help meet our energy shortfall. As President Musharraf pointed out at the high-level review meeting, there is a need for greater co-ordination among the departments and agencies concerned as well as all the stakeholders so that unnecessary delays are not caused.
One option available to us is the tapping of all types of renewable sources of energy in the country. Establishment of solar parks, particularly in remote areas of the country, is also under consideration of the government. However, their contribution to the country's overall energy needs, will only be negligible.
According to one estimate, Pakistan will require an investment of $2.9 billion by the year 2007 and $20.4 billion by 2010-2013 for mega power projects and for the existing system's improvement. This will require large amounts of foreign aid and investment, the flow of which has so far not matched our expectations or claims.
The country's total power production stands at 19,404 megawatts while we will be in need of another 5,529 megawatts by the year 2010 to meet our burgeoning demand. As Pakistan has vast untapped hydel power potential that can be utilised for meeting our requirements, we will have to restructure our entire energy strategy, with hydel factor firmly in view.
According to irrigation experts, as much as 35 maf of water goes to waste every year while the country is faced with a yearly deficit of 9 maf, that is all set to grow to 15-20 maf by the year 2020. Pakistan's estimated untapped potential stands at 40,000 megawatts of hydel power, which is the cheapest known source of energy. But we are at present producing only 6,000 megawatts of hydel power. The government has meanwhile decided to offer seven new sites for hydropower projects.
These new sites are: 548 megawatt Kagah hydropower project at Kohistan in NWFP, 240 megawatt Karit project in AJK, 222 MW Azad Pattan project in AJK, 209 MW Asrit-Kadim project at Swat, 197 MW Kalam-Asrat project at Swat, 139 MW Chokotti-Hattian project (AJK) and 65 MW Sehra project (AJK). The inauguration of Diamer-Bhasha Dam on Indus River by the President is a step in the right direction. It is scheduled to be completed in six years.
However, it is better late than never. As for Kalabagh, instead of handing down a decision by fiat, the government should allow the issue to be thoroughly debated in parliament for a consensus to be evolved, by addressing the smaller provinces' reservations.
The proposed gas pipelines, particularly TAP and IPI are also highly promising energy projects that need to be pursued with determination and for which the government should aim at the creation of a conducive security environment. Unfortunately, governments in Pakistan have avoided addressing sensitive national issues to ensure their own longevity or to use the divisive potential of the problems to their advantage.
The best forum to address all national issues is parliament, as is the practice in countries we hold as models of good governance. Let all our national problems be sorted out through discussion and debate, and consensus be evolved in parliament. Let an institutional approach be adopted to solve our problems urgently.