WAPDA employees demand an end to the privatization of profitable electricity distribution companies, immediate recruitment, and regularization of contract workers.
A large protest demonstration was held outside the National Press Club in Islamabad on Tuesday as members of the All Pakistan WAPDA Hydroelectric Workers Union (CBA) opposed the proposed privatization of electricity distribution companies, including IESCO, FESCO, and GEPCO.
The rally was led by the union’s central deputy chairman and IESCO regional chairman, Javed Iqbal Baloch, along with other union leaders. Despite heavy rain, employees from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, and Chakwal participated in significant numbers, chanting slogans against privatization, inflation, unemployment, and what they described as anti-worker government policies.
Addressing the gathering, Baloch argued that privatizing profitable power distribution companies was an unwise decision. He claimed IESCO remained Pakistan’s top-performing electricity distribution company and questioned the rationale behind transferring profitable public assets to the private sector.
The union also demanded the immediate recruitment of staff to fill thousands of vacant positions, the regularization of contract employees, an end to long-distance transfers of meter-reading and line staff, and the release of pending employee benefits.
Union leaders warned that if the government proceeded with privatization, workers would launch stronger protests, including a sit-in outside Parliament House. They urged authorities to reconsider the policy and engage with employees to resolve their concerns.
About The Author
