Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) employees staged a protest rally Wednesday on the Benazir Bhutto Road against the proposed privatisation of the power distribution companies. The protestors, who belonged to the WAPDA Hydro Electric Central Labour Union, said the government had not taken the WAPDA employees into consideration while making this decision. They announced that they would stage a sit-in in front of the Parliament House on December 21st and that WAPDA offices across the country would remain closed on the day of the protest. They were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands.
The Islamabad Electric Supply Company officials also gathered at Marir Hassan Complex and marched towards the Benazir Bhutto Road to participate in the protest. The rally was led by Mian Rehman Ghani and other union leaders who condemned the policies adopted by the government for the energy sector. Ghani said privatisation would lead the energy sector towards another disaster. “Our country is already facing a severe energy crisis and the government’s decision to privatise the sector is not in the best interest of the country,” he said.
