September 25, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 24, 1429

HYDERABAD, Sept 24: The proposed privatisation of Thermal Power Station Jamshoro, Qadirpur Gas Filed, and Heavy Electrical Complex was condemned during a meeting of the All Pakistan Powerhouses Administrative Committee and Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union, here on Wednesday.

Central Chairman of the Administrative Committee, Mohammad Sajan Panhwar said that the proposed privatisation of Jamshoro Thermal Power Station, a profit-earning organisation of the People’s government, was incomprehensible.

He refuted the argument that Wapda was in deficit and said that an amount of Rs23 billion were outstanding against KESC, Rs14.72 billion against FATA and Rs93.31 billion against different departments of federal and provincial governments.

This could be a reason of Wapda going into deficit he said adding that if the above-mentioned amount of Rs121 billion was paid to authority then there won’t be a need for its assets to be disposed of.

He said Wapda was already paying Rs84 billion to IPPs at the rate of 70 paisa per KWH and if Jamshoro Thermal Power Station was also given to IPPs, then this burden will further increase.

Come what may, we will not accept the privatisation of Jamshoro power station, Panhwar said and appealed to President and Prime Minister not to take such decisions. He said the outstanding dues of Rs121 billion should be paid to Wapda to strengthen its financial position.