Electricity crisis

We are facing an ever-worsening electricity crisis. Before a solution to this problem is found, it is important to identify the real issues involved. Like the PPP, the PML-N government is mainly focusing on enhancing power generation capacity through additional (mainly thermal) generation units. The PPP had tried the RPPs which turned out to be a financial scam. The present government is trying everything – coal, gas, furnace oil, LNG, solar and wind. But it is avoiding the cheapest of all sources – hydel power.
Why is our emphasis on installation of more (rather expensive) generation capacity when as per data available we already have an installed hydro power capacity of 23,000MW. Moreover, we have witnessed many breakdowns in the recent past. What is the government doing to revamp the system? The issue of circular debt has not gone away as we are still producing electricity we cannot pay for. The Ministry of Water and Power should come out with a clear plan to resolve this critical issue.
Engr Hafeez Ullah Awan
Islamabad