19 November 2004	Friday	06 Shawwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, Nov 18: The workers of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) have urged the government not to allow the proposed break-up and placement of Wapda's power wing under the federal government at the behest of the World Bank (WB).

The demand was made at a meeting of the representatives and workers of the Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union on Thursday.

The workers warned the government that the proposed break-up of the power wing would not only create inter-provincial dispute over electricity tariff, but would also affect the productivity and continuity of supply and maintenance of the national power system.

They said power system was also being maintained at the national level in Japan, the whole of Asia and the Pacific region.

The meeting, presided over by the union general secretary Khurshid Ahmed, also expressed concern over the reported decision of the federal government in this regard. They pointed out that such schemes of the World Bank had already failed in California, United States, New Zealand and India.

The union leaders said the government should take into confidence the Wapda workers before initiating such a move since the deregulation and privatization of power system would endanger national economic unity besides further raising power tariff.

Union office-bearers Zahid Shah, Agha Badarul Islam Abdali, Osama Tariq, Chaudhry Maqsood Ahmed and Chaudhry Noor Mohammad spoke on the occasion.