Salman Rashid

Travel writer, Fellow of Royal Geographical Society

Pakistan is a country free for some
14 July 2013

When the new government took over only some weeks ago, we were promised that cars with engines larger than 1000 cc will not be permitted CNG as fuel. I thought that was good thinking. But I also knew that like all past governments this will just be some more hot air and nothing will be done about enforcing this, just another of the State’s worthless orders.

Sure enough nothing happened. Just yesterday (13 July 2013) returning from Islamabad by the Grand Trunk Road, the driver stopped to get CNG for his 1300 cc Corolla from a pump near Kharian. Also in line to fill up were a number of Toyota Hi Ace vans and one super luxury Toyota 4x4. As for the last, I have a question: if you can afford to spend Rs 10 million on a car, you can surely afford to run it on diesel. That you cannot shows what you really are.

I mentioned this to the driver of the car I was in and he said, ‘Ae Pakistan a!’ This is Pakistan and everything goes. This was just another one of those thousands of orders that ineffectual politicians and bureaucrats pass that never get enforced.

And today the paper tells me that the worthy Punjab Chief Minister has threatened a crackdown on power pilferers. Well done, sir. But even as you order your ineffective minions to get going, the power stealers of villages in the outback are thumbing their noses at you. Phooey, they say. You say what you want, but we’ll beat the living daylights out of the DISCO chaps who come around to tell us to pull our kantis down.

And beat they surely will as it has always happened. Therefore the DISCO men will never go anywhere near danger. Power will continue to be stolen and those of us who pay our bills will continue to bear the burden.

Since we are on the subject, why doesn’t the federal government tell the people of FATA and other anomalies that this sorry state of Pakistan continues to nurture, that they will also have to pay for the electric power they use. Try it. I dare you, Mr Prime Minister and your Minister for Power, to get electricity paid for by people in FATA or even from Loralai, Zhob etc. It takes teeth and another part of the male anatomy to get such things done, good sirs. You have neither.

Power will continue to be pilfered in this Land of the Pure.

Labels: About, Pakistan

posted by Salman Rashid @ 13:59,

5 Comments:

At 14 July 2013 at 14:33, Lahoremassagist said...: Ya, this too is no go area for the present Pakistan government like all others. Poor 'we' will keep suffering.
At 14 July 2013 at 15:17, M Behzad Jhatial said...: Now I am also of the opinion "Ae Pakistan e"..... Because the rulers are not worthy enough to be trusted a far as I think.....
At 14 July 2013 at 17:16, S A J Shirazi said...: Why you forget the legacy of corruption - NRO, Swiss Case, Rental Power case, OAGRA Case, Anti-Narcotics case and so many others. List goes on and on. Bijli and gas chori is much lesser crime. Pakistan ZindaBad.
At 15 July 2013 at 09:30, Siama Ashraf said...: Itnay such bolna mana hai aur woh bhi aik waqt main.

Thora thora jhoot mila lay apni suchi baton' main warna jhootay logon main tu kesay umr guzaray ga? Shehr k chorahay pr aaeena lay kr mat jana apni soorat dekh k tijh ko hr koi pathar maray ga.
At 15 July 2013 at 12:56, Salman Rashid said...: Saima, Itna jhoot bolo kay vo such lugnay lagay. That should be the principle, I suppose.