MULTAN - The members of WAPDA Paigham Union staged on Wednesday a protest outside Multan Press Club against denial of joining letters to newly-recruited 1,163 Assistant Linemen, warning that they will be forced to besiege the Mepco Headquarters if the joining letters are not issued at earliest.
The protesters were led by union president Siraj Uddin Saqib who chanted slogans against the Mepco administration. They also staged a sit-in.
Later on, addressing a news conference, Mr Saqib pointed out that 1,163 officials were recruited on merit but they were not issued appointment letters. He said that the orders of courts were also rejected by the Mepco authorities. He said that the number of Mepco consumers crossed 20 million figure and the company is faced with serious line staff shortage.
He said that the Mepco officers broke all previous records of corruption with the connivance of Hydro Union and the burden of that corruption is put on the poor consumers. He said that the officers and Hydro Union office-bearers took away all perks earmarked for the families of martyred or injured worker.
He alleged that the sub-divisions and circles of Mepco were sold out like police stations and the SDOs, XENs and SEs as well as Hydro Union office-bearers made heavy fortunes after winning lucrative posts. He said that NAB cases were underway against Mepco officials and the government should punish corrupt Mepco officers to recover billions from them. He alleged that the vehicles given by the government for addressing public complaints are under use of Mepco officers while line staff is forced to move around on their own motorbikes.
He pointed out that over 15,000 Mepco workers had got martyred and 23,000 handicapped in different incidents but not even a single officer was punished for negligence. He said that the accidents would stop occurring if bucket vehicles were supplied to the line staff.
He demanded the government to cut down the number of officers in MEPCO and recruit line staff. He said that Mepco needed at least 40000 new workers. He alleged that the electricity meters, wires, transformers and even electricity polls were sold out by corrupt mafia. He demanded the government to check the assets of all MEPCO workers and officers and launch crackdown on those who possessed assets beyond their means.
Other office bearers of Paigham union were also present on this occasion.
GREEN MULTAN GREEN
PAKISTAN CAMPAIGN
The USAID-Punjab Youth Workforce Development Project and district government jointly launched Green Multan Green Pakistan campaign here at Qasim Fort on Wednesday.
Deputy Commissioner Mudassir Riaz Malik planted a sapling and kicked off the plantation drive under which over 200,000 saplings will be planted in the district.
Speaking on this occasion, the DC said that Pakistan was faced with serious environmental issues which were getting worse with every passing day. He was of the opinion that stringent and concerted efforts were needed from both public and private ends to overcome the environmental issues.
Chief of party USAID-PYWD project Qaisar Nadeem declared on this occasion that 40,000 plants would be donated to the district government besides conducting other activities like awareness sessions on importance of tree plantation. Earlier, the youngsters from USAID-PYWD project planted saplings at Qasim Fort.