WAPDA workers protest privatisation plan

Union VC says previous govts made similar attempts under World Bank, IMF pressure

QUETTA: Workers of All Pakistan WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union Balochistan held a protest in front of Quetta Press Club against the plan to privatize the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).

The union leaders along with Vice Chairman Abdul Baqi Lehri addressed the concerns of protesters. They told them that the collective bargaining agent (CBA) has appealed the government at different public forums through protests and in writing to abandon the plan to privatize WAPDA and its related companies in the best interest of the country.

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Quoting the example of privatization of K-Electric, Lehri said, “The previous government has privatized K-Electric which resulted in miseries for its consumers.”

He added that an attempt to privatize WAPDA in the past has already failed.

“The previous government had made plans to privatize WAPDA under the pressure of International Monetary Fund and World Bank but it had to back out after protests by unions,” the vice chairman added.

The union leaders blamed political interference in the appointment and the role of the board of directors for the crisis in the organization.

“Political interference is a major reason behind disrupting services of the public organisation which cannot be resolved with privatisation,” said Lehri.

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Demanding an end to transfers and recruitments on a political basis, he called for putting operations of the company in capable hands. He added, “According to the WAPDA Act 1958, the organization must be restored to its original status along with the appointment of competent management providing help in affordable production of electricity.”

He added that effective policies and recovery of payments need to be ensured to halt the theft of electricity.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2019.