Mepco workers warn of power suspension across the country

MULTAN: The Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) workers and employees on Wednesday warned of suspending power supply across the country if the decision of privatising Wapda was not withdrawn.
Following a protest call by the Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA), the Mepco employees, led by Malik Saeed and other union office-bearers, staged a sit-in in front of the Mepco Headquarters.
The protestors urged the government to withdraw the decision of privatising Wapda forthwith.
They were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the proposed privatisation plan. They chanted slogans against the privatisation.
“We would not allow the World Bank conspiracy of privatising worthy asset of the nation. We would jam the country by suspending power supply from main transmission line,” the workers warned.
Addressing the protesters, Malik Saeed and other office-bearers claimed that the employees’ future would be insecure if the Wapda was given to private sector.
They warned the government to stay away from privatising power companies otherwise the protest movement would be extended across the country.
They asked the government to generate cheaper electricity through hydel and coal fired thermal power plants instead of privatisation.
They said it was the constitutional responsibility of the state to provide cheaper electricity to citizens, industry and agriculture sector.
They also demanded the government suspend those members of the Board of Directors who had been inducted under political influence.