Imagine living in a dark, congested, sweltering hot cave with no access to water and peace of mind. But than again, if you’re living in Karachi, you don’t have to imagine it ‘coz KESC is darling enough to make YOU live like this. I received a joke the other day which goes something like this, ‘If you’re in darkness than pray to God to show you the path towards the light, but if you’re still in darkness than that means you’re in Karachi’. Even darkness is somewhat bearable, but if you’re so hot that you’re almost melting, you temper is sure to shoot very very high. Since this up rise in heat and decline in steady electricity, almost every morning I see people shouting or fighting on the roads. Traffic jams are already torturous enough, but combine it with angry and impatient drivers, foul mouthing passengers and Heat( yes I know I used capital H because small ‘h’ is not portraying how HOT it can be) you’re in for a huge treat. And this latest bouts of rain and dust storms made matters a bit more complicated, since rumble of walls and poles are strew across the roads that are liberally sprinkled with potholes and every type of holes imaginable.

Everyone is angry over KESC, this load shading is proving to be painful for many people especially students and business folks. But I wonder, shall this be our excuse to ransack buildings and restaurants. For the life of me, I just couldn’t understand that whenever there has to be a protest, KFC either is burned to ground or serious damage is being caused to it. Commercial area near the place I live, consist of many banks and offices made up of huge pretty windows and recently EXACT software company constructed this state of art roundabout. Few days ago, many of those building’s windows were broken and that roundabout looked pitiful after the treatment it received from the angry mob. The reason for this destruction? Because there was no electricity! I wonder if any of those in mob realized that by causing destruction, electricity could not be produced. We south-Asians are emotional lot admittedly but being vicious and destructive is I hope we are not. Unfortunately, recent events are proving otherwise. KESC is facing some issues and loads of problems after privatization, plus many of it’s equipments are old and already lived their expected life and now in dire condition to be replaced, which obviously needs money.

I think instead of being the part of problem, an alternative way should be sought. Huge investment can be made in electricity being generated by solar energy. Many countries are already successfully working on it. Why can’t we? I’m sure this can not be the only solution, there are many just waiting to be tapped. Lights out shouldn’t be the reason for our sanity bulb to go off as well! At least that’s what my logic says…

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