LAHORE: The representatives of Wapda workers’ union and civil society activists have urged the government to improve efficiency of the power distribution companies (Discos) instead of privatising them.
This demand was raised during a joint press conference of the civil society members, former officers of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and office-bearers of the All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA) and the Pakistan Workers Federation.
CBA Secretary-General Khursheed Ahmad, Workers Party Chairman Abid Hasan Minto, Wapda’s former member power Syed Tanzeem Naqvi, Pakistan Workers Confederation President Robina Jameel, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s representative Husain Naqi and others also addressed the news conference on ‘Energy Crisis and Dire Need for National Reforms’.
They warned they would start a countrywide protest if the government does not stop privatising the Discos. “Around 150,000 electricity workers and engineers along with the national trade unions movement, civil society and progressive political parties would launch a countrywide protest to press for acceptance of their demand if the government did not respond,” they warned.
They urged the government to take measures on the demands of the working class, civil society and progressive political parties. They said the death of more than 1,000 innocent citizens in Karachi during peak summer because of loadshedding by K-Electric added fuel to fire.
