Power for the powerful
This refers to the editorial, ‘Power and the
powerful’ (May 1). Put an average Pakistani in a powerful position and he will
be tempted to abuse his authority. He believes that no one will respect him if
he follows the rules. Go into any government office and you will find air
conditioners running full blast even before the ‘sahib’ has reached his office.
This is to ensure that the sahib doesn’t have to sweat before the air
conditioner is switched on and the office is cooled.
No government officer is bothered if electricity is wasted, because he doesn’t have to pay for it out of his own pocket. The result, of course, is that government departments are the major power defaulters. In private companies, managers are taken to task if electricity consumption rises without any reason. But government employees, knowing that they cannot be sacked, blissfully ignore wasteful expenditure. The government should do what private companies do: make the department heads pay for the electricity used in their offices. This will, of course, require meters to be installed in every department, but it will pay off in a short time.
Shakir Lakhani
Karachi
No government officer is bothered if electricity is wasted, because he doesn’t have to pay for it out of his own pocket. The result, of course, is that government departments are the major power defaulters. In private companies, managers are taken to task if electricity consumption rises without any reason. But government employees, knowing that they cannot be sacked, blissfully ignore wasteful expenditure. The government should do what private companies do: make the department heads pay for the electricity used in their offices. This will, of course, require meters to be installed in every department, but it will pay off in a short time.
Shakir Lakhani
Karachi
Printed in The News, May 2, 2014
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