LAHORE: All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union observed a nationwide “Protest Day” against the proposed privatisation of power companies and the rising prices of essential commodities and petroleum products.

Demonstrations were held in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Quetta and Lahore.

In Lahore, hundreds of electricity workers staged a protest rally outside the Bakhtiar Labour Hall under the leadership of union general secretary Khurshid Ahmed.

Addressing the participants, Mr Ahmed urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari to halt the privatisation of power distribution companies in the national and public interest.

He emphasised that the performance of power companies could be improved by implementing effective safety measures, providing modern equipment, and recruiting additional line staff.He said the electricity had become extremely expensive due to fixed ‘capacity payments’ made to Independent Power Producers (IPPs). He urged the government to renegotiate IPP agreements, introduce necessary reforms, and establish a strong regulatory framework to ensure economic stability and reduce electricity tariffs.

The rally was also addressed, among others, by Haji Younis, Usama Tariq, Younis Butt, Sajid Kazmi, and Shafqat Javed.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2026