ISLAMABAD: Awami Workers Party (AWP) and trade unions on Saturday organised a protest rally at Aabpara Chowk against the sharp increase in prices of electricity, inflation, economic injustice, unemployment and violation of basic human rights.

The protesters demanded that to prevent Pakistan’s economic decline the government should stop capacity payments to private power plants, audit all Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for over charging and make them renegotiate their contracts.

If IPPs continue with their destructive policy, they should be nationalised to save Pakistan from complete economic collapse.

AWP Rawalpindi-Islamabad General Secretary Iqbal Jahan said Pakistan was facing the worst economic and social crisis in its 77-year history.

Due to high inflation, the working and lower middle-class people were forced to commit suicides. AWP Islamabad Deputy Secretary Zeeshan Ahmed said that the capacity payment to IPPs was taken from the pockets of the common people through various taxes, increase in electricity, petrol, diesel and sugar prices.

The protest march was attended by the members of the general public, leaders of progressive parties, trade unions, students and women’s organisations.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2024