WAPDA Workers Rally in Tando Adam Against Proposed Privatisation

Sanghar (Hasnain Ashiq Saand)

The Pakistan WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union took out a protest rally in Tando Adam against the proposed privatization of WAPDA and to demand resolution of workers’ longstanding issues.

According to reports, a large number of employees participated in the rally, which started from the WAPDA Division Office and culminated in a sit-in outside the Tando Adam Press Club. The protest was led by Divisional Chairman Noor Hassan Bhughio and General Secretary Akhtar Ali Kaloi.

Carrying banners and chanting slogans, the demonstrators strongly opposed the government’s move to privatize WAPDA, saying it would harm thousands of workers and burden the public.

Addressing the gathering, union leaders Noor Hassan Bhughio, Akhtar Ali Kaloi, Manzoor Khaskheli, Faheem Qureshi, Abdul Ghafoor Brohi, Shakeel Rajput, Irfan Malik, Rustam Ali Magsi, Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry, Tahir Rajput, Ayyaz Shaikh, Lal Kumar, Rajab Ali Bughio, Abdul Ghani Nizamani, Shoukat Khaskheli, Akbar Nizamani, and Om Parkash condemned the federal government for what they called “anti-worker policies.”

They said the protest was being held on the call of Central Chairman Abdul Latif Nizamani, and warned that employees would continue demonstrations if the privatization plan was not withdrawn.

The speakers also criticized the government for not recruiting staff against vacant posts in WAPDA, saying the shortage of manpower had made it difficult to manage routine operations. They added that if the government could increase the salaries of ministers even on holidays, it should also raise the wages of WAPDA employees.

The protesters demanded that the proposed privatization of WAPDA be immediately scrapped, warning of an extended protest movement if their demands were ignored.