Traffic snarl on BB Road as IESCO staff hold protest

Sea of cars lined up stationary; workers demand halt to privatisation, private appointments.

RAWALPINDI:

Hundreds of Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (Iesco) workers staged a protest rally on Benazir Bhutto (former Murree) Road on Tuesday against the proposed dissolution of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), privatisation of all power supply companies and appointment of a private chief executive at Iesco.

The protestesters blocked the road creating a massive traffic jam from Marrir Hassan Chowk to Chandni Chowk as huge lines of vehicular traffic were seen on Tipu Road, Liaqat Road, Saidpur Road and Rawal Road. The traffic jam slowly eased out after the protesting workers dispersed two hours later.

Different Iesco and Pepco workers unions participated in the rally that was led by Pakistan Wapda Hydro-Electric Central Labour Union Regional Chairman Mian Rehman Ghani.

The protesters carring placards and banners saying, “Iesco privatisation, unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable,” and chanted slogans against the federal government’s policies on inflation and unemployment.

The traffic woes started when the protestors staged a sit in at Committee Chowk, blocking BB Road for more than two hours. Commuters and pedestrians faced a lot of trouble as the time of rally coincided with rush hour.

A large number of Iesco workers from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, GSO Circle and many other areas reached rallies outside Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club (RIPC).

While addressing the protestors, Mian Rehman Ghani said that the incumbent government was undertaking anti-people polices. He said that the privatisation of Pepco and appointment of a private CEO against hefty pay was ample proof of the erroneous polices of the government.

“The people of Pakistan and Wapda workers will never accept the privatisation of Pepco and will agitate against this illogical decision of the government,” he added.

Iesco Engineers Association Chairman Wajid Kazmi said that the government was cheating the public by presenting false facts and figures regarding Wapda. He said that government itself was responsible for the bad financial condition of Wapda.

Iesco is generating Rs7 billion profit annually, whereas it is being privatised through a conspiracy. Moreover, “The government is appointing people on key posts who are totally inexperienced and have no knowledge of the power sector,” he lamented.

He said that engineers played a vital role in every sector while the appointment of private CE would not be tolerated. Kazmi threatened that, “Wapda workers and engineers will disconnect the electricity from Attock to Jhelum including the federal capital if the government does not remove the private CE from his office.”

The protestors urged the government to solve the problems of Wapda workers besides providing health, education and transport facilities to their families.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2011.