LAHORE (PR): National conference of trade unions’ representatives and workers was held on Monday under the aegis of All Pakistan Workers Confederation at Islamabad Press Club against the proposed privatization of national public utilities on the behest of IMF and federal budget which failed to tackle aggravating unemployment and rising poverty.
A large number of the various trade unions’ representatives, member of Senate Mrs Nafisa and representatives of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and civil society including Jawad Ahmed addressed the conference. At this occasion, veteran trade union leader Khurshid Ahmad, general secretary of the Confederation, urged the working class and civil society to galvanize their struggle and asked the government to raise the wages and salaries of the workers and pensions at least 50% and also fix the minimum wages Rs20,000 per month. He also demanded the government not toprivatise the national public utilities including electricity, PIA, NBP, Civil Aviation, Railways, oil & gas and others.
The conference through a resolution urged the PM to hold dialogue with workers representatives and review its policy of the privatization and get amended outdated labour laws.

in conformity with ILO conventions, and ensure free education to each child by abolishing double education system and transfer control of electricity companies to WAPDA. The conference appealed to the workers to launch country wide protest in support of their just demands.