Wapda workers protest privatisation, bonus cuts
People take to streets in Peshawar to protest as they denounce WAPDA on August 29, 2023. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB
On the call of the All Pakistan Wapda Hydroelectric Workers Union, thousands of employees from the three power distribution companies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa staged protest sit-ins across divisional headquarters on Wednesday. The main demonstration was held outside Wapda House, Peshawar, where union leaders strongly opposed the proposed privatization of DISCOs, the non-recovery of kidnapped PESCO employees from Bannu, suspension of marriage grant and scholarships, cuts in bonuses, non-payment of HHU allowance to meter readers, delays in service structure for lump-sum staff, and denial of salary increases for part-time employees.
Addressing the gathering, Provincial Chairman Haji Muhammad Iqbal, Secretary Noorul Amin Haiderzai, Vice Chairman Yasir Kamran, Central Chairperson Gohar Taj, Finance Secretary Nasir Khan, and TESCO Chief Coordinator Peer Durani, said that despite a 70 per cent shortage of staff and deteriorating law and order conditions, the remaining 30 per cent workforce worked tirelessly to generate a record profit of Rs20 billion for PESCO this year, compared to last year.