HYDERABAD, May 24: Protest rallies were held in several districts of interior Sindh on Tuesday against price hike, increasing unemployment, promulgation of anti- labour laws and privatization of state enterprises. A large number of workers took part in the rallies organized on the call of Pakistan Workers Confederation. Workers also brought out processions and held protest meetings to press for the acceptance of their demands.

In Hyderabad, Hesco employees took out a big procession from the Labour Hall in Gari Khata, which terminated at the Hyderabad Press Club after marching on main roads. They carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands.

Speaking on the occasion, central president of the Pakistan Wapda Hydro-Electric Central Labour Union Abdul Latif Nizamani said the government’s claim that it had got rid of the IMF was not true. He said that rulers were still following the orders of the international financial institutions.

Mr Nizamani said workers were facing hardships because of ever-rising inflation and demanded that a raise in workers wages should be announced in the forthcoming budget commensurate with the increase in the prices of essential commodities.

He said workers had given their blood and sweat to national enterprises and they would not allow the privatisation of Wapda, PTCL, OGDCL or other assets. He severely criticized what he said promulgation of black laws against workers and said that forced retirement or retrenchment of workers would not be tolerated.

Union’s provincial secretary Iqbal Qaim Khani said it was the working class which had created Pakistan but they were being meted out step-motherly treatment. He said poverty and unemployment was increasing day by day while the poor people were committing suicide.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Mir Khan Baloch, Malik Sultan Ali, Azam Khan and others.

NAWABSHAH: Led by Fazal Shaikh and Ali Jan Rind, members of the Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union staged a protest demonstration outside the Wapda Manuabad office for the acceptance of their demands.

Holding placards workers raised slogans against the government economic policies. Speaking on the occasion, union leaders said prices of consumer goods had increased manifold but no raise had been made in workers salary. They demanded that the government should raise workers salary in the coming budget.

They also demanded that privatization of Wapda and PTCL should be cancelled, factories in the province should be reopened and services of ad hoc and daily wage employees should be regularized.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: A large number of Hesco employees brought out a procession to protest against the privatization of Wapda.

Around 125 employees led by local president of the Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union brought out a rally from the XEN office in Wapda Colony which after passing through different roads terminated at the Press Club.

Union leaders Yaqoob Solangi and others in their speeches opposed the decision to privatize Wapda and said it would render thousands of workers jobless.

JACOBABAD: The Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union staged a rally demanding increase in workers wages and against the privatization of Wapda.

Divisional chairman of the union Abdul Rashid Abbasi, vice-chairman Mehboob Lashari, sub-divisional chairman Ahad Khoso, joint secretary Mushtaq Ahmed Soomro and others criticized the government’s economic policies and said prices of essential commodities were increasing on a daily basis.

They demanded that the government should stop privatization of Wapda, control price hike and raise salaries of workers.