Power and privatisation: FESCO workers oppose privatisation, protest against plans

Privatisation has led to power sector difficulties according to FESCO workers.

FAISALABAD:

Hundreds of Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) workers gathered in front of FESCO headquarters on Thursday to protest against plans for privatisation of power companies. The government should concentrate on improving national departments instead of privatising them, they said.

Speaking on the occasion, Wapda Employees Pegham Union general secretary Mian Iftikhar said “the government should learn from the privatisation of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), which has incurred a Rs10 billion deficit and laid off 8,000 employees”.

Iftikhar said power sector difficulties had started with the privatisation of Kot Addu power company.

A number of workers were laid off from Kot Addu power plants and the company raised electricity tariffs. He claimed that the Kot Addu power company was consuming the entire power revenue, leading to a build up of so called circular debt.

Iftikhar said FESCO workers will resist any attempt by the government to privatise the company.

He said the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company had been one of the best among power distribution companies in the country with a high recovery rate (99.6 per cent) and the lowest line losses (10 per cent).

Representatives of the PREM, the All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), the FDA Employees Union, the WASA Labour Union, PIA Labour Union and Irrigation Pasban Union were present to express their solidarity. The protestors also burnt an effigy of privatisation.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2014.