In And Then There Was Darkness, Javed Munawarud Din delivers a candid, personal, and poignant account of his thirty-year career within Pakistan’s power industry. The book is an insider’s perspective that sheds light on the monumental mismanagement and corruption that plagued the country’s power sector, leading to widespread inefficiencies and widespread suffering for the people. Javed Din’s work, marked by sharp wit and profound observations, pulls back the curtain on Pakistan’s power industry, offering readers a rare, unfiltered look at the systemic problems that have hindered the country’s development, despite generous foreign aid and support.
The Story of Pakistan’s Power Sector: A Cautionary Tale
The book presents a remarkable and true story, one that spans decades and chronicles the rise and fall of Pakistan’s once-promising power industry. What makes the narrative even more intriguing is that it comes from someone who worked intimately with the system for over thirty years. Javed Din takes us through Pakistan’s journey as it received significant aid from the USA and the World Bank, designed to create a robust power infrastructure. The hope was that this investment would not only provide Pakistan with much-needed electricity but also elevate its entire economy. The intention was clear: to make Pakistan a regional leader in energy, much like the USA’s Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
However, the tale of Pakistan’s power sector is far from one of success. According to Javed Din, the industry’s demise was inevitable due to deep-rooted systemic corruption, incompetence, and foreign influence. Aided by historical colonial exploitation and the country’s entanglement with foreign interests, the leadership of Pakistan consistently failed to manage the resources and opportunities at hand. Instead of working toward self-reliance and sustainable development, politicians, bureaucrats, and contractors colluded to create an environment where billions of dollars were funneled into thermal power plants that never functioned as promised. The result? A populace left to pay for electricity they never received, while simultaneously enduring frequent blackouts.
Through Javed Din’s eyes, we see how these colossal failures in governance and planning led to environmental degradation, widespread pollution, and health hazards. For the people of Pakistan, the promises of development and prosperity were hollow. The situation became dire, yet the leadership remained indifferent, while foreign powers largely ignored the suffering. This growing neglect is poignantly captured in the title of the book—And Then There Was Darkness—which alludes to both the literal and metaphorical darkness enveloping the country as its power infrastructure crumbled.
Javed Munawarud Din: A Life of Experience and Insight
Javed Munawarud Din, the author of this eye-opening book, brings a wealth of knowledge to the subject, having worked within Pakistan’s power industry for three decades. His unique perspective, enriched by his firsthand experience with Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), allows him to provide an insider’s view of how the power industry unfolded, from its promising beginnings to its eventual collapse. Javed Din’s writing is characterized by his humor, anecdotes, and sharp observations, which make the complex history of Pakistan’s power sector more relatable and accessible to readers.
Born in India, before the birth of Pakistan, Javed Din traces his journey from his early life to his transformative career in the power industry. After serving with WAPDA from 1968 to 1997, he witnessed firsthand the organization’s evolution, initially modeled after the success of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), of USA. However, over time, he saw the organization’s capabilities degrade as corruption, poor leadership, and dependency on foreign aid took their toll. Javed Din uses his personal experiences as a springboard to discuss the systemic challenges that Pakistan faced, many of which still persist today.
In addition to his career with WAPDA, Javed Din’s story also includes stints in Saudi Arabia, USAID, and as an engineering consultant, which further broadened his understanding of power industries in different countries. His experiences in these international environments provide a contrast to the mismanagement he witnessed in Pakistan, offering insightful comparisons between countries that effectively harnessed their power sectors and those that failed to do so.
In 1997, seeking to escape the toxic environment within WAPDA, Javed Din immigrated to the United States. There, he pursued higher education and transitioned to a career in education. For fourteen years, he worked to organize the tutorial directorate and as an adjunct faculty member at Bronx Community College NY, where he continued to share his knowledge with students. Despite his relocation, his ties to his home country remained strong, and he continued to observe and analyze the fate of Pakistan’s power industry from afar. His book, And Then There Was Darkness, is a culmination of his career, reflections, and deep concern for the future of Pakistan.
A Warning to the World
Javed Din’s book is not just a critique of Pakistan’s power industry, but a broader commentary on the consequences of poor governance, corrupt leadership, and foreign interference in national development. Through his work, he makes it clear that the failure of Pakistan’s power sector is a direct result of the government’s inability to prioritize the needs of its people. At the same time, foreign powers, such as the USA, who provided aid, often did so with transactional motives that ultimately failed to address the root causes of Pakistan’s problems.
And Then There Was Darkness serves as a cautionary tale for other developing countries that might fall into similar traps. It underscores the importance of self-reliance, transparent governance, and the need to focus on the long-term well-being of the people, rather than short-term political and financial gains.
Conclusion
Javed Munawarud Din’s And Then There Was Darkness is a compelling and insightful exploration of Pakistan’s failed power industry. Through his personal journey and the broader story of WAPDA, Javed Din provides a sobering look at the impacts of corruption, mismanagement, and foreign influence on national development. The book is both a personal memoir and a poignant commentary on the challenges faced by developing nations in managing their resources and infrastructure. Ultimately, it calls for a reevaluation of policies and priorities in the power sector—one that puts people before politics, and long-term sustainability before short-term gains.
In a world where energy is the lifeblood of modern economies, And Then There Was Darkness is a stark reminder of what happens when that lifeblood is allowed to stagnate under the weight of poor leadership and systemic failure.
Media Contact:
Contact Person: Javed Munawarud Din
Email: javedmdin@gmail.com
Contact Number: 5127481996
Address: 9413 Castle Pines Dr, Austin, TX 78717
