HYDERABAD: Workers of Lakhra coal powerhouse staged a protest outside the local press club on Monday against closure of the powerhouse. Speaking on the occasion, All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union leaders Iqbal Ahmed Khan, Malik Sultan, Azam Khan and Mohammad Hanif Khan said the powerhouse remained closed for the past several years, which was causing unrest among workers.

It was the first coal-fired powerhouse of Pakistan which was producing low-cost electricity, they said, regretting that the powerhouse remained closed for non-availability of funds whereas expensive electricity was being purchased to meet the power demand.

They said that the standing committee on power sector had decided in a meeting held in the powerhouse to run it, but the decision was not implemented to date. They said the government was planning to privatise the powerhouse, which was great injustice with the employees and the organisation.

They said the transportation facility of employees of the powerhouse had been withdrawn at a time when workers were already facing the issues of salaries, medical and accommodation facilities.

This situation was causing a sense of deprivation among the employees of Sindh and this would not benefit the organisation. They urged the higher authorities to run the powerhouse to get low-cost electricity for the country.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2019