TAXILA: On the call of All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union, employees of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) on Friday brought out a rally against the government’s plan to privatise the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

The rally was taken out from Iesco Margalla subdivision which after marching on G.T. Road concluded at the Iesco complex.

The participants were carrying placards and banners in support of their demands and chanting slogans against the government’s move.

The union leaders along with zonal chairman All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union Syed Sammar Shah addressed the protesters.

The speakers said privatisation of Wapda would further increase the rate of electricity and enhance problems of the people. They said the collective bargaining agent (CBA) had appealed to the government at different public forums to abandon the plan to privatise Wapda and its related companies in the best interest of the country.

They demanded the government regularise services of contractual workers and give them a significant pay raise keeping in view the prevailing inflation. They warned that if Wapda was privatised, power tariff would skyrocket and poor people would be unable to avail of the facility.

They also demanded implementation of son’s quota policy, promotion of employees and payment of all allowances-cum-privileges.

The speakers also pointed out that there was a serious shortage of line staff and a directive to transfer more than 100,000 workers had been issued which must be withdrawn.

The union leaders warned to launch a nationwide strike in case their issues were not resolved.

Electricity is a basic need of the people, Syed Sammar Shah said, adding: “The proposed privatisation of profitable electricity companies at the behest of the IMF would be against public interest since the privatisation of Karachi Electric Supply Company and independent private power houses miserably failed.

“It would also add hatred among provinces. Since national control of electricity, companies had been providing electricity to 40 million industrial, commercial, agriculture and domestic consumers all over the country,” he said.

Fazal Hussain, vice chairman of the union, urged the government to intervene and issue a directive stating all vacant posts should be filled at the earliest, adding proposed transferring of electricity staff would not only add to sufferings of the workers but would also impact productivity.

He said workers would be compelled to march towards Islamabad in case their just demands were not met.

At the end, through a resolution, it was recommended to the energy minister to allow 10 per cent pension and ad hoc relief allowance to electricity workers like in Wapda and NTDC.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) urged the government to stop privatisation of power distribution companies.

“The government should stop the privatisation process in particular of electricity distribution companies and thermal power stations,” said PPP leader Sardar Zulfiqar Hayat Khan in a press conference in Hassanabdal on Friday.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2022