Copyright pakobserver
AT present, Pakistan is facing a severe crisis in the energy sector, compelling the government to make several crucial decisions — such as ordering the early closure of markets and limiting wedding halls to operate only until 10 p.m. As part of the energy-saving initiatives, the federal government is gradually converting all ministries, departments, authorities and their provincial subsidiaries to solar power. Similarly, provincial departments are also introducing solar energy on the same pattern so that the country can benefit from the abundant sunlight available and produce low-cost energy. There is no doubt that the circular debt has turned into a monstrous problem that stands in the way of national progress. The government is quite serious about overcoming the energy crisis to ensure that industries, agriculture and the general public can have access to affordable electricity, allowing the country to move forward on the path of development. However, the nation must also take personal responsibility and contribute toward addressing this energy crisis. In this regard, people should make greater use of sunlight for instance, by trying to complete their daily tasks during daylight hours. Unfortunately, our lifestyle is the complete opposite. People stay out eating on the roadside until one or two pm, in the morning, have breakfast around noon, lunch in the late afternoon, and continue other activities just as irregularly. What kind of system and discipline is this, where we spend half the day sleeping and begin our waking hours when it’s time to rest? This was also the situation during the reign of Bahadur Shah Zafar. When the East India Company arrived in the subcontinent, its officials would begin work at seven in the morning, while the local population spent nights in leisure and games, sleeping till noon and the outcome of that is written in history books. It is also said that “early to bed and early to rise makes a person healthy and wise.” The world looks at our lifestyle with astonishment, yet we remain unwilling to reform it. Whenever our governments try to regulate market hours or impose early closure times, an uproar spreads across the country. Traders open their shops at one or two in the afternoon and keep them open till late at night. But what harm would it cause if shops and markets are opened at 8 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m.? That’s an 11-hour business day quite sufficient. The excuse often given is that customers don’t visit before 1 p.m., but that’s hardly surprising if shops open at noon, how can buyers come at 8 a.m.? If business starts early in the morning, there’s ample time before sunset. However, this requires a change in our lifestyle. If we adopt a consistent schedule and limit commercial activities to 7 or 8 p.m., we could save a significant amount of electricity. In Punjab, wedding halls used to operate until one or two in the morning, but the practice of closing them by 10 p.m. began some time ago and now everyone has adjusted to it. In Western countries and in the United States, shops, markets and offices close by evening, people dine and then go to bed early so they can start the next day on time. If they can do it why can’t we do the same in Pakistan? —The writer is contributing columnist, based in Faisalabad. (ranazahid4@gmail.com)
