PESHAWAR: The All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union has strongly opposed the government’s decision to privatize power distribution companies (Discos), warning that workers across the country will launch a vigorous protest campaign against the move.
In a joint statement here on Sunday, Central Vice President and Provincial Chairman Haji Muhammad Iqbal, Central Chairman Gohar Taj, Provincial Secretary Noorul Amin Haiderzai, Vice Chairman Yasir Kamran, Deputy Chairman Shafiullah, Joint Secretary Tariq Khan, and Information Secretary Gohar Ali Gohar said that the privatization of Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Islamabad Electric Supply Companies would not be allowed under any circumstances.
The union leaders stated that thousands of Discos employees nationwide are prepared to take to the streets against what they termed an unwise and anti-worker decision.
They alleged that successive governments were responsible for the decline of Wapda and claimed that costly agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) had forced the nation to bear the burden of expensive electricity.
“The government should withdraw its decision to privatize the Discos and increase salaries and pensions by 100 percent in line with inflation,” said Haji Muhammad Iqbal.
Central Chairman Gohar Taj stated that profit-making national institutions should not be handed over to private entities, while Provincial Secretary Noorul Amin Haiderzai maintained that the privatization of Discos was not in the interest of the country or its people.
The union leaders further criticized the government’s economic policies, saying it had failed to control inflation and unemployment.
They expressed concern over the difficulties faced by working-class families, particularly regarding access to education, healthcare, and basic necessities.
They urged the government to focus on reforms within the power distribution companies instead of privatizing them.
The union also demanded special relief measures for low-income citizens in the upcoming budget, the merger of all ad hoc relief into basic salaries, and a 100 percent increase in salaries and pensions to offset the impact of rising inflation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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