960422

Govt departments

workers stage

rally against

privatization

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Workers of more than 33 Collective Bargaining Agents of government and state controlled departments took out a protest procession from the main government transport stand to the Railway Headquarters against the privatization policy.

The central president of PREM Union Hafiz Sulman Butt, who was leading the procession, addressed the protestors inside the Railways Headquarters. He said 67 percent of the budget was being spent on the administrative expenditures while only 33 percent was being incurred on the developmental activities.

Hafiz Sulman said agricultural labour would be affected by the privatization of the distribution of irrigation system.

He raised the slogan "Save the workers to save the country", while addressing an enthusiastic crowd. He said if the government did not avert the privatization process, students and peasents organisations will also be invited to joint hands against the "anti-state act" of privatization by the government.

Earlier the workers marched to the Railway's Headquarters carrying placards bearing slogans against privatization.