Lack of political will

This refers to the editorial ‘Energy evaluation’ (February 14). I believe that due to a lack of political will by our successive governments to let this critical, capital-intensive, and complex sector be managed by a team of capable and independent team of professionals, chosen on pure merit, the higher authorities have been unable to bring much-needed reforms to the power sector. Our governments, including the present one, continue to deal with power-sector related crises through run-of-the-mill solutions. It believes in fixing the problems through quick inductions and replacements of top managers, mainly on purely political basis, who are either clueless to what needs to be done or are not permitted the requisite autonomy to pursue their strategic vision.

Unless the government changes its mindset, hands over the power sector to a professional team that is selected on pure merit, and allows it a freehand to manage this sector without meddling into its day-to-day affairs, we should not expect the power crisis to be over anytime soon.

Dr Shahid Rahim

Bahawalpur