Power Rides

JULY 2004 - Perhaps few people realize that Wapda has continued to play an important part in the development of our national character. That it has done so, without fear or favour, without taking center stage and claiming its rightful share of glory, only goes to show that it is truly a national institution with a noble mission. It is perhaps the only institution other than the PCB that rises above petty and self-serving interests and gives national commitment a new meaning.

The great irony of course is, and remains so after many years, that hardly anyone has been able to spend an hour without flogging Wapda to death. It seems clear that all Pakistanis have a completely false understanding of Wapda’s mission statement or indeed the services and sacrifices of the many illustrious generals who have served Wapda with great credit but remained the nation’s unsung heroes. Rising silently to the seventh floor in Lahore’s Wapda House and surveying the city that lies spread before the flying-saucer shaped head office, has merely reaffirmed their commitment to the cause. Among the many misconceptions under which this country continues to struggle, there is a common, very popular and wholly unrealistic notion that Wapda was created to supply water and power to the people of Pakistan. Although the organisation has suffered under this yoke, it has not complained. Supplying water or power has never been its mission – both these have simply been byproducts that were an unimportant part of the equation. It was determined a long time ago that Wapda would develop character by simply denying to the people what they foolishly took for granted. The logic behind this profound thinking was that unless we can condition our people to accept the ups and downs of life, we will never be able to develop our national character and stand amongst other developed nations. So Wapda was charged with this noble but arduous task and one can understand that there were many in Wapda who had serious reservations at the success of such a radical philosophy.

However, thanks be to the powers that be and thanks to that old adage, where there is a way there is a will, there rose from within the ranks of Wapda, determined and strong men of character who held their hands over their hearts and made solemn pledges that they would do everything they were mortally capable of to achieve the exalted goals set for them by their superiors. ‘Deny the water,’ said the policy planners ‘and soon enough you will be able to deny power as well.’ Though the rank and file of Wapda could not quite understand how this would work, they nevertheless made firm resolves then and there and thus began the difficult task of building our national character. It was a long road and it was never easy. Sometimes, in spite of best efforts at every level, there would be embarrassing failures, like the one time the people of Pakistan received power without interruption for a full 24 hours. No one could understand how this had come about and there were many who were put on the mat and questioned. The guilty ones were swiftly punished. A General Manager at this time made a stirring address to the despondent Wapda workers. ‘Uninterrupted power supply for 24 hours,’ he thundered, ‘is a serious offence for which your colleagues are paying a dear price. Let no man make this mistake again,’ he added, ‘because this cuts at the very core of our mission statement. Spare the rod and spoil the child. Provide the power and ruin the line,’ he added somberly. ‘We cannot afford such laxity again,’ he concluded. There wasn’t a dry eye that day in the Wapda Auditorium.

Inspired by their superiors, the men renewed their dedication to the cause. Under the hawk-eyed supervisors and the entire hierarchy of commanders at every level, Wapda got into top gear in a remarkable fashion and at a speed that left their worst critics stunned. Line losses achieved an all-time high and set a record that left most nations way behind. On the day that line losses crossed 30%, there was great rejoicing in Wapda. Traditional sweets made the rounds, leaders of the unions were flung joyously in the air and caught with sounds of laughter renting the air. ‘Men,’ said a senior officer, ‘today we have achieved a milestone we never thought we’d ever achieve,’ he said in a stirring and emotionally charged voice. ‘As for nations which achieve 9% losses, we have beaten them hollow,’ he added before the applause all but drowned his voice. ‘Rise further,’ he exhorted before he was carried away in a procession. While many organizations would have been content with what they had achieved in such short time, Wapda’s mission, their Holy Grail so to speak, required that much remained. Thus while line losses were maintained rigorously, the Authority, for that is what people called it now, out of respect and awe, undertook the first of many price hikes. So common were these hikes that people often called them ‘usual surges’. The unit price of electricity was raised and raised again. Just as people would be getting complacent, like an electric shock, another power tariff rise would be hurled like a thunderbolt. ‘Continue,’ said the Chairman from his ivory tower. ‘Build their character so that they should never take anything for granted. This is our divine mission,’ he added looking heavenward. This was understandable as all missions at some point become blessed with the light of divinity. Quite recently this celestial light bathed the President in its heavenly glory and he was heard to declare that there seemed, after all, a divine purpose to his being on a flight from Sri Lanka that bright October day in 1999.

Periodic meetings at Wapda House reviewed in minute detail the progress that they were making. As and when cases of uninterrupted supply were detected, swift and brutal action was unleashed. In winters, there was generous load shedding plunging cities into darkness. In the cold, people sat in the dark and developed character and fortitude. ‘Never take anything for granted,’ was the Chairman’s message on New Year’s Day. ‘We have much to achieve,’ he added. Truer words were never spoken so eloquently before. Well before the summer of 2004 arrived, there was a ‘Eyes Only’ directive from Wapda which stated that each Wapda company would ensure at least half a dozen breakdowns a day. Those achieving higher breakdowns would be suitable rewarded. Those not measuring up would pay the price for laxity. There were management tips at all times.

On hot days, engineer breakdowns throughout the day but keep the tempo erratic so that people are not lulled into a false sense of security. Even before a dust storm materializes, interrupt power supply. During a storm, keep everything off anyway. As soon as it starts to rain, maintain position since rain means reasonably cool weather and is therefore a good resource to be used strategically. During the night, just to make sure that no one becomes a softie and sleeps through, create breakdowns every 3-4 hours. If all else fails, generate a grid failure and plunge half the province into darkness. Never try and understand demand vs. supply. This is not Wapda policy. These measures will ensure a rugged and strong Pakistan with people fully resilient and able to take on any mishap. Lastly, said the directive, with so many companies fooling about with power, no one will ever be the wiser. When power becomes a crisis, we’ll see. Never recover dues from defaulters so that they remain under pressure. Above everything, ensure that failure is the word that inspires you all the way.