FAISALABAD: A large number of employees of the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) and their colleagues of different Discos took out a protest rally on Wednesday against the proposed privatization of the company.

Carrying banners and placards against the privatization, the protestors blocked traffic at the District Council and chanted slogans against the government.

Addressing the protesters, All Pakistan Wapda Hydro ElectricWorker s Union secretary Khursheed Ahmed said the government should not privatize Fesco, Iesco and Lesco on the pressure of the IMF as privatization had not benefited Pakistan.

He said the government should reduce rates of electricity and take urgent steps to end loadsheddingin the country.

He said the electricity was mandatory for the public, agriculture, trade and industry and it was the responsibility of the government to ensure this facility.

`If the government can run billions of rupees metro bus systems in Islamabad and Lahore, then whyit wants to hand over the profitable Discos to the influential people,` he asked.

Suggesting viable alternative to privatization, he said the government should hand over such companies to Wapda and introduce reforms.

He threatened to stage a long march on Islamabad if the government failed to resolve the issue of privatization through dialogues.

Employees of Mepco, Sepco, Pesco, Iesco and other Discos also took part in the protest and vowed to continue their struggle to save companies from privatization.