World News for Students of English

04-06-2024 15:00

Authorities in Pakistan are cracking down on power theft by disconnecting offenders from the electric grid.

About 30% of electricity is stolen, a problem that has persisted despite past governments’ efforts. People and factory owners often bribe corrupt officials to ignore the theft. Samiullah Khan runs a repair shop in Mingora and he says frequent power outages are ruining his business, which relies 90% on electricity. These outages last 16 to 18 hours a day, making it difficult to deliver promised services. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held an urgent cabinet meeting to address power theft and improve the outdated transmission infrastructure.

New projects are delayed due to Pakistan’s financial crisis, which forces the country to import costly fossil fuels. Electricity prices in Pakistan are 45% higher than in many neighboring countries, and the IMF calls for further increases. High fuel costs make electricity expensive, and temperatures over 50°C make life harder without enough power.

Difficult words: persist (to continue to exist), bribe (to pay someone to do something illegal), transmission infrastructure (the system that sends electricity to factories and homes).

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