LESCO workers voice privatisation fears

LAHORE:

Scores of All Pakistan Hydro Electric Workers’ Union members and LESCO employees marched from Bakhtiar Labour Hall to the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday to protest against potential privatisation of power distribution companies.

Khurshid Ahmed, general secretary of the union, said that the government was following the policies recommended by international monetary institutions. “Feudalism and capitalism have allowed the rich to create more wealth at the expense of the poor. Fuel prices have been increased this month on the behest of international monetary institutions. The government’s biggest consideration is not the people and their welfare but the implementation of its privatisation policies,” he said. He said that all segments of society should support the struggle of the working classes in public interest.

The workers demanded that the government hand over control of power distribution companies to the WAPDA or the PEPCO instead of boards of governors, including private members. They also demanded that the government raise pensions and wages of workers by at least 50 per cent.

Through a resolution passed at the demonstration, the workers condemned the Mastung killings.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2015.