On 28 August 2023, Electricity workers from the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) staged a demonstration in front of the Lahore Press Club, in collaboration with the Red Workers Front, to protest against unjust high electricity bills affecting the public across the entire country.
It’s important to note that the management and administrative officials exerted significant pressure on the WAPDA workers not to participate in this protest, even issuing threats of severe consequences for non-compliance. Despite this, workers from all sectors of WAPDA took part in the demonstration.
WAPDA workers conveyed a clear message to the public, stating that they stand in solidarity with them. They blamed the state, IMF, and private electricity companies (IPPs) for the oppressive bills. These entities are not only raising electricity rates but are also excessively taxing electricity usage, thereby quadrupling bill amounts to poor consumers.
The workers demanded that all IPPs should be nationalised immediately to lower electricity costs. They also called for the tax burden of IMF programs to be shifted from the public to the wealthy and ultra-rich. Moreover, they urged an immediate halt to the outsourcing in WAPDA and a swift hiring process to fill staff shortages.
