Workers protest devolution of PEPCO

Angry employ­ees hold protes­ts in Lahore, Faisal­abad, Multan and Rawalp­indi.

Thousands of employees of electric supply companies staged demonstrations against privatization of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) and appointment of private chief executives in electric supply companies on Tuesday.

The government has planned to privatise power companies, but no notification has been issued to the companies.

Angry employees held protests in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi raising dissatisfaction regarding the privatization of Pepco.

They chanted slogans and demanded the decision to be withdrawn immediately.

Protesters said that privatization will not only lead to the unemployment of thousands of workers in electric supply companies but will also allow an unchecked hike in power prices.

Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) employees staged a rally in Lahore from Alhamra Hall to Wapda House warning that if privitization is not withdrawn, the power supply to all government departments including parliament will be suspended.

They said that privatization of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has failed and a lesson should be learned from it.