HYDERABAD/ LARKANA: Hydroelectric workers took to the streets on Wednesday in Hyderabad and Larkana to protest against the federal government’s plan to privatise power distribution companies, warning that the move would harm the national interest.

Organised by the All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA), the rally in Hyderabad marched from the Labour Hall and culminated outside the local press club. The demonstration was led by CBA union president Abdul Latif Nizamani, alongside Iqbal Ahmed Khan and other union leaders.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Nizamani demanded an immediate end to the privatisation of national assets and electricity distribution firms. He urged the Federal Ministry of Energy (Power Division) to engage with the CBA union to resolve these issues and improve operational efficiency across the sector. He further called for the removal of the ban on new hiring to prevent institutions from collapsing.

Mr Nizamani also criticised senior officers for their indifferent attitude and negative conduct towards subordinates. Emphasising the need to curb fatal workplace incidents, he highlighted that employee promotions and grade upgrades had been frozen for the past 18 months.

To address systemic issues, he advocated withdrawing free electricity unit allocations for officers in BS-17 and above. He also urged the government to grant formal approval to unapproved grid stations and transmission lines to avert major disasters.

Mr Nizamani also demanded the regularisation of contractual, outsourced, and fixed-wage staff, alongside the establishment of educational institutions and healthcare facilities dedicated to workers and their families.

He noted that while the National Grid Company of Pakistan Linited (NGC) continues to expand its grid stations and transmission lines, it has failed to recruit the necessary operational staff — an issue he urged authorities to rectify immediately.

Speaking at the rally, Iqbal Ahmed Khan stated that similar protests were taking place across Pakistan under the banner of the CBA union. He commended the workers, including female employees, for turning out in large numbers to support the cause.

In Larkana, power sector employees staged a rally and demonstration at Jinnah Bagh Chowk, responding to a central call from the All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA).

Carrying banners and flags, the Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) workers raised slogans against the move.

Addressing the gathering, union regional chairman Nisar Ahmed Shaikh — alongside Khurram Memon, Hadi Bakhsh Jatoi, Abdullah Soomro, and other leaders — claimed the federal government was seeking to privatise Wapda under pressure from international financial institutions. They described the move as an attack on public ownership that would put hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk and exacerbate national unemployment.

The leaders vowed that attempts to hand the utility over to private entities would not be accepted under any circumstances. They accused the ruling political and landed elite of disregarding the struggles of the working class while pushing self-serving policies. They further warned that privatising profitable state institutions would severely damage the country’s economic progress and stability.

Demanding the immediate withdrawal of the privatisation plan, union leaders warned that demonstrations would continue across the country if their demands were not met.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2026