Speakers at the launching ceremony of the report "Water Supply in Lahore: Public Sector Reform not Privatisation" on Friday said that privatisation of Lahore Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa) is unacceptable. The ceremony was organised by Punjab Urban Resource Centre. The speakers also said that water is a basic human right, which must be guaranteed to all citizens under all circumstances.
Speaking on the occasion, Rabia Ezdi said that the response of civil society to the proposed privatisation of the Wasa is unacceptable. She also said that decisions of public interest should be taken according to the wishes of the people. She said that the privatisation of public utilities is generally seen as undesirable by civil society, as the private sector primarily seeks its own interest and not that of citizens.
Speaking on the occasion, Rafay Alam said that the population of Lahore would be double in next 20 years. He also said that government should made plans by taking into consideration that how they would provide education, health and solve the sanitation problems of the city.
Director, Pakistan Institute of Labour and Research, Karachi, Ali Arslan said that privatisation increase the problems instead of solving them. By giving the example of the privatisation of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), he said that the company fails to provide relief to the people. He said that government should take steps to provide relief to the people.