Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) workers observed Protest Day on Tuesday all over the country under the aegis of Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union (CBA) against increase in electricity prices and breaking up of Pepco.
The workers took out processions in all the major cities including Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad and Quetta. The protestors held a mass really before Lahore Press Club chanting slogans against the government.
Khurshid Ahmad, General Secretary of the Union along with other representatives led the procession. While addressing the rally Ahmad lamented that these decisions were imposed on World Bank and the IMF pressure and government raised power tariffs on account of high rate of generation by rental powerhouses and private generators at the cost of public interest.
He condemned the decision of the government to dismantle Pepco and dividing the electricity department into various companies against public interest. He said that these decisions are in violation of the constitutional provisions that electricity would remain under the federal list instead of handling over to the private sector. He demanded of the government that it should not follow the dictations of the IMF and World Bank. He pleaded all patriotic forces to extend support to the working class of Pakistan to defeat the plans of World Bank and IMF. He urged the government to develop Hydel and coal fire thermal power situation in the public sector since they are producing electricity at the rate of Rs 1.25 and Rs 6.00 respectively.