This has reference to your Editorial March 27. Ministry of Water and Power has forwarded a summary to the Prime Minister proposing a two-day weekly holiday and advancing Pakistan Standard Time by an hour to conserve electricity. There is no general agreement about the proposed measures.
The President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry have rejected these measures. The Government of Punjab also does not agree with these proposals. I believe the other three provinces of Pakistan also cannot afford this luxury of two-day weekend. They will definitely disagree with the electricity conservation plan.
In view of the lack of general agreement on this plan the government should abandon it. The government does not have capacity to implement the laws and practices that allow savings in electricity through such means. Electric savings can be achieved voluntarily by motivation.
The retail and commercial outfits may be motivated by FPCCI, KCCI, trade associations, trade groups and market committees to open their establishments early in the mornings and close them with sunset. They may be allowed to do business on Sundays after 3pm till sun set. The provincial governments should also commit to provide complete security during early hours of the day and also on Sundays afternoons to retail and commercial outfits.
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