THIS is apropos the news report `Surge in generator imports gives reality check to govt claims` (May 31). It is shocking to note that industrialists and traders imported power generating machines to the tune of $162m in April last as compared to $77.7m in April 2014.
This may further escalate in the coming months due to increase in loadshedding.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the import of generators was worth $1.1bn (July-April) of this fiscal year. This does not include fuel to run the generators.
My contention is that this amount could have been diverted to upgrade local infrastructure to get cheap generators. The other option is to spend the same amount on establishing micro hydel dams, as well as renewable energy resources.
I recommend that the import of generators be curtailed. Instead, we must generate energy with all available means. It is a pity that the Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC) is being privatised, though it should have been upgraded in order to manufacture generators. Then we could have saved a huge amount on the import of power-generator.
