Paper

Privatization of WAPDA:
Workers and Consumers Concerns
And the
National Concerns

By: Mazhar Arif

AMERICAN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL LABOR SOLIDARITY

                                    C   O   N   T   E   N   T   S

  1- Introduction
  2- Privatization in Pakistan
      2.1 Rationale for privatization
      3-   Privatization of power sector
            3.1 IPPs and allegations of bribery
            3.2 Army in WAPDA—workers union suspended
            3.3 Regulation
            3.4 Role of IFIs in power restructuring / privatization
      4-   Questioning the idea of privatization
            4.1 The case of KESC, Pakistan Steel Mills and PTCL
            4.2 Privatization: Feast of vulture capital
            4.3 Management problem
            4.4 Consumption patterns—a policy issue
      5-   Privatization of utilities—a failure
      6-   Social dimensions and impact of privatization on workforce
            6.1 Employment
            6.2 Industrial relations
            6.3 A participatory approach--the necessary connecting thread
      7-   Privatization and democracy
            7.1 Pressures on Democratic Institutions
            7.2 Multilateral bias
            7.3 Cronies and corruption
            7.4 Perversions of justice
            7.5 Human rights and trade union rights
            7.6 Loss of control
            7.7 Secrecy
            7.8 The Democratic Backlash
      8-   Resistance against WAPDA’s privatization
            8.1 WAPDA workers protest campaigns
            8.2 Demand for inquiry commission
      9-   Power Sector and Consumer Concerns
            9.1 Pricing & Tariff Concerns
            9.2 Universal Access to Basic Services
            9.3 Regulation
    10- Privatization and national concerns
          10.1 Control on national economy
          10.2 Regional inequalities
          10.3 Division of royalties among federating units
    11- Recommendations
    12- References... [continues]

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