Benefits of power outages

 Published in Dawn on 22nd June 2007

THE poor ministers must be feeling very bad about having to hear criticism every hour of the day. So I thought of thinking up the good things this government has done and how beneficial it has been for me. 

The best job they've done is to privatise the KESC. There was a time, not long ago, when power supply was reliable and if ever it was disrupted, we had breakdowns which didn't last more than half an hour. 

So most of the time I and my family remained glued to our TVsets we have, and we didn't have much to talk about, as we even used to watch TV programmes while taking dinner. Since we seldom looked at each other, I would sometimes fail to recognise my wife, and I honestly couldn't tell, when asked, what my children were doing. 

Now, with three-hour power breakdowns being the norm, we head for the nearest park where we sit and relax and enjoy the sea breeze. We have started talking to each other, and I was amazed to find that my children have not only graduated but hold good jobs, besides being married. 

And in the dead of night, when the power supply is disrupted, we breathe the carbon monoxide emitted by generators owned by our neighbours (being more concerned about the environment, I have bought an inverter which can provide electricity to four fans for three hours without foouling the atmosphere).

So, if the current power crisis lasts another year, we'll be those rare humans who are able to live for a few hours without oxygen. 

But the best thing about the power crisis is that we now no longer go to wedding dinners and parties, as there is likelihood of my car being burnt by the mobs protesting against prolonged power breakdowns. The result, of course, is that i'm saving a fortune as I don't have to buy all that fuel which I would otherwise have to do. 

So, I say to our ministers, don't bother what the critics say, go on doing what you're doing, I think you're doing a good job. 

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi