HYDERABAD: Activists of the All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union brought out rallies, staged sit-ins and blocked roads in many Sindh towns on Thursday in protest against government plans to privatise distribution companies (DISCOs) of Wapda.

In Hyderabad, the union leaders Iqbal Ahmed Qaimkhani and others said at a big rally outside the press club that Wapda workers would never allow privatisation of the national entities.

They said the government planned to sell off all public sector organisations at throwaway price.

Larkana

The union workers took to the roads in Larkana and voiced their opposition to the government’s policy of privatisation and induction of executives from outside the distribution companies to run their affairs.

The leaders asked the government to stop appointing outsiders as heads of DISCOs and advised it to elevate senior engineers of the institution to the high posts.

They called for an end to political meddling in the affairs of Wapda and DISCOs and demanded reduction in power rate to provide relief to consumers.

Sukkur

The employees of the Sukkur Electric Power Company of Sukkur, Pano Akil, Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo, Salehpat, Rohri, Khairpur, Ranipur, Thull, Kandhkot, Jacobabad and other towns observed a tool-down strike.

The strikers put locks on all Sepco offices before gathering at Toll Plaza, Baberloi bypass near Sukkur where they blocked the National Highway by burning tyres and staging a sit-in.

In Jacobabad, the Sepco employees took out a big rally from Wapda main office, which terminated in a sit-in outside the press club. Similar protests were staged in Khairpur, Ghotki, Shikarpur and Kandhkot-Kashmore.

Badin

A large number of workers of the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company took out rallies and staged demonstrations outside the Badin Press Club in protest against privatisation of DISCOs.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2014