DST, ELECTRICITY AND CORRUPTION  

by Muhammad Javed Sheikh 

There is a general apprehension that the Government of Pakistan has adopted Daylight Saving Time during current year i.e. 2009 whereby clocks have been advanced by 1 hour to utilize the daylight as an energy substitute. However, people of Pakistan logically saved day time not energy.  It is therefore, proposed that the nomenclature of Daylight Saving Time (DST) may be corrected to Day Time Saving (DTS) which actually reflects the real operational definition.   In Pakistan, it has been observed that on one hand, day time has saved, but invited many institutional, social and economic problems. Current crisis of electricity is the foremost and the current debatable issue. 

People across the country are being affecting from electricity shortages. Number of causes floats to increased demand and shortage of electricity issue. Fast-paced economic growth, introduction of electrical operating equipments, upward mobility as well as increased line losses led to increased electricity demand. The survey said household sector has been the largest consumer of electricity accounting for 44.2 percent of total electricity consumption followed by industries 31.1 percent, agriculture 14.3 percent, other government sector 7.4 percent, commercial 5.5 percent and street light 0.7 percent (londoneconomicspress.com). The nerves touching issue of electric shortage is not only severely affecting the people of Pakistan but at the same time, dominating situation of electricity shortage is the great hindrance to the growth and development.

According to a survey by Transparency International (2006), Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority is perceived to be the second most corrupt institution in the country and the majority of respondents were of the view that corruption in Pakistan in last three years increased by 100 percent. Therefore, an overwhelming majority from recent study were of the opinion that instead of imposing new time policy, it would be better to address the situation concerning corruption in WAPDA. The WAPDA employees themselves teach people to steal electricity for the purpose of money to keep in their pockets rather than to deposit in the government accounts. Hook/kunda system or tempered meters is the most usual phenomenon and frequently observed in the streets of the country. Almost every line man is involved in that crime. And every influential person treats them accordingly because of their weaknesses. Influential class belongs to business community or any political party; consume more electricity than a common man and has certain tools and techniques to handle WAPDA. Unfortunately, apparently it is a matter of supply and demand.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME (DST) 

Increase in domestic electricity bills 

Stealing of electricity + Corruption 

Increased line losses 

Over billing + Load Shedding + More Taxes 

Restlessness 

Strikes 

      Social Disorganization 

The available literature revealed that DST increases the domestic electricity consumption.  Excess usage of electricity results in surplus amount of bills. Such amount may put an extra burden on the budget of a common man. For that reason, stealing of electricity is a most common phenomenon.  Consequently, the scenario helps to enhance line losses and WAPDA compensate it by over billing the fair customers. Load shedding by the department is another option to minimize the revenue deficit. As more units are consumed, losses are increased more. Therefore, to minimize the losses, the department plans to manage more load shedding. All at once, more taxes are forced, which are again only applicable to law abiding persons. So, despite putting an extra burden on fair consumers government must strive to cut down the theft menace of the electricity. So, such an irritable situation, disturb the whole life of a common man, either results in to hold strikes or to become a member of theft group wordlessly.