PESHAWAR:
At the call of the central leadership of the All Pakistan WAPDA Hydroelectric Workers Union, workers from all three electricity distribution companies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa staged province-wide demonstrations against the proposed privatization of WAPDA, non-recovery of abducted PESCO employees from Bannu, recruitment delays, job insecurity, rising inflation and unemployment.
The main protest was held outside Peshawar Press Club, led by Provincial Chairman Haji Muhammad Iqbal, Secretary Noorul Amin Haiderzai, Deputy Chairman Yasir Kamran, Deputy Chairman Shafiullah, Information Secretary Gohar Ali Gohar, Regional Secretary TESCO Liaqat Ali, GSC Zonal Chairman and GSC Zonal Jabbar, Anwar Mahmul Jabb. Hundreds of workers took part in the demonstration, carrying placards and shouting slogans against the government’s privatization policy.
Addressing the protesters, union leaders said it is the state’s responsibility to provide security, free healthcare and educational facilities to citizens and government employees. They criticized the government’s privatization drive and said the “failed experiment” of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (K-Electric) should serve as a warning.
They warned that WAPDA’s privatization would not only increase unemployment but also lead to further increases in electricity prices, worsen the financial burden on the poor and adversely affect the national economy.
The speakers urged the federal government and the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) to review their decision to privatize WAPDA and instead introduce reforms in the organization. They demanded dissolution of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) and their merger back into WAPDA to strengthen the institution.
The union also demanded the safe recovery of five PESCO employees who were abducted from Bannu on 12 September 2025 and immediate recruitment to fill vacancies. Speakers noted that staff shortages have increased the workload on existing employees, leading to inefficiency, increasing electricity theft and non-payment by consumers.
