Quetta ; Hydro workers from the All Pakistan WAPDA Hydroelectric Workers’ Union (CBA) staged a major protest at the Quetta Chief Executive Office, joining solidarity demonstrations across Balochistan and the country.
Muhammad Ramazan Achakzai, Union Joint President and Balochistan Chairman, strongly condemned government plans to privatize WAPDA’s power sector companies and suspend key departments, calling it detrimental to the nation’s energy security.
He accused policymakers of systematically dismantling WAPDA since 1958 under IMF and World Bank directives, awarding costly contracts to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) that burden the state with excessive capacity payments. Ramazan urged the government to renegotiate IPP agreements and prioritize affordable, sustainable local energy projects including dams, solar, and wind to reduce electricity tariffs to levels comparable with neighboring countries like Afghanistan, Iran, and India.
Warning of a potential nationwide labor boycott if privatization moves forward without union consultation, he demanded urgent action on filling 60% vacant posts at Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), enhancing worker security, timely promotions, settling outstanding payments, and strict enforcement of labor rights.
The union called on the government to rethink privatization and adopt policies that ensure affordable, reliable power while protecting the rights and welfare of the workforce essential to Pakistan’s energy infrastructure.
