LAHORE: Electricity workers across the country observed the `Safety Day` on Tuesday under the aegis of the All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA).

They urged the prime minister to intervene in the deteriorating state of affairs related to inadequate safety of the field officials facing tragic fatal and non-fatal accidents one after another.

Recently, two linemen in Faisalabad circle and Tank subdivision died while performing duty. Linemen Rana Ahsan, Dijkot SubDivision People`s ColonyDivision Faisalabad Circle No II, had died on May 20 after falling from a pole and Abdul Rasheed, lineman at Tank Sub-Division No 1, DI Khan Division Pesco, had got 11-kV electric shock and died.

At a meeting held at the Bakhtiar Labour Hall here on Tuesday, union secretary general Khurshid Ahmad said: `In any circumstances, the workers should refuse to do work if there are no sufficient safety gadgets.

He urged the prime minister and the federal energy minister to provide safe anddecent work and save the workers from fatal and nonfatal accidents by filling up more than half vacant posts of the line staff.

He also urged the government to raise wages and pension of the workers commensurate with the high price hike at least 50 per cent in the present high inflationary days.

Speaking on the occasion, Lesco general manager (O&M) Tahir Mayo and Safety Director Fawad Ahmad assured the workers of providing standard safety equipment and standard training.The meeting was addressed, among others, by Haji Younas, Osama Tariq, Rana Shakoor, Muzaffar Mateen, Hassan Munir, Nausher Khan Haji Liaqat and Malik Zahid. Staff Reporter