KOHAT, Dec 28: The Wapda Hydro-electric Labour Union has said that the privatization of the organization will create problems for employees and consumers and will not help control the losses as is being claimed by those favouring the sell-off.

Speaking at a seminar held at the Town Hall here on Tuesday, the union leaders said the haste in which the privatization of Wapda was being considered showed the inability of the government to control theft and line losses and bring down the tariff.

Younis Shah, chairman of the union, criticized the authorities concerned for considering the privatization at a time when the losses had started coming down. Fauji Badshah, zonal head of the union, said they would not accept the privatization of their department at any cost. He asked the people of the area to support them on the issue and save Wapda from falling into foreign hands.

He pointed out that the problems plaguing the power sector today had been caused by the establishment of International Power Producers, which, he added, were looting the state.

Some of the elected representatives and businessmen attending the seminar supported the union demand. The union announced that it would take out a protest procession from Defence Colony and hold a public meeting at Faisal Gate on Wednesday.