Raza Rabbani urges govt to stop privatisation process

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Mian Raza Rabbani said Thursday that the government should stop the privatization process in particular of electricity distribution companies and thermal power stations.

The government should also reduce payments to independent private power houses, he said in a statement.

The ban on recruitment of electricity workers which has been in place for more than five years should be lifted. Protection of electricity field staff during the performance of their official duties should be ensured immediately, he added.

The Government should immediately withdraw The Essential Services Act and allow trade union activity, which is a right guaranteed under the Constitution, 1973, he said.

The Government should stop the retrenchment of workers under one pretext or the other, he said.

Rabbani said the government should check the constantly increasing prices of essential commodities and bring to book the profiteers and hooters.

The electricity tariff, petrol prices and prices of essential commodities have made life impossible for the working class. They are forced to withdraw their children from school and cannot afford a square meal in the day.

The price increase coupled with retrenchment of workers is forcing the working class to commit suicide.