PESHAWAR: The members of All Pakistan Wapda Hydroelectric Workers Union on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration against shortage of staff, delay in recruitment and non-payment of bonuses.

They threatened to boycott duty on Eidul Azha if their demand about payment of bonus was not accepted. They gathered outside Peshawar Press Club and chanted slogans against the federal government.

The protesters demanded of the government to address their grievances regarding rising inflation, unemployment, fatal accidents during duty, staff shortage in Wapda, delay in recruitment and non-payment of bonuses.

The protest demonstration was led by provincial chairman of union Haji Mohammad Iqbal, central chairman Gohar Taj and other leaders. They demanded of the government address their grievances.

The demonstrators called for immediate recruitment in Wapda to prevent life-threatening electrical accidents, regularisation of contractual and temporary employees and 100 per cent increase in their salaries in the upcoming federal budget.

Haji Mohammad Iqbal said that Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) were facing acute shortage of staff. He said that only 12,000 workers were responsible for maintaining 1,315 feeders, serving 4.3 million consumers, and covering 74,521 kilometres of distribution lines.

He said that severe staff shortage and workload were leading to deaths of field workers. He alleged that the situation was a result of government’s negligence.

The leaders of the protesters said that International Monetary Fund (IMF) was not mandated to freeze salaries of government employees.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2024