Privatisation of Hattar complex opposed.

HARIPUR -- The government should reverse its decision of privatising the profit-making Heavy Electrical Complex Hattar as it has ramifications both for the national economy and the already oversaturated job market.

These views were expressed by Hazara Labour Federation general secretary Tahir Amin while talking to journalists here on Wednesday. He said the government had once again put the HEC on the privatisation list despite the fact the unit had been saving millions of rupees of foreign exchange annually since its inception in 1994.

He said the HEC had the annual production capacity of 148 power transformers of different ratings together with the repairing capacity of the type used at grid stations.

Mr Amin said the HEC was currently receiving manufacturing and repair orders of different distribution companies worth Rs1.36 billion. He added that had these orders been placed with private manufacturers, the cost would have increased by 100 per cent.

According to him the government's decision of privatising the HEC has exposed its 300 workers to constant mental stress as they are well aware about the fate of industrial units and their workers privatised in the past. He claimed that in case of privatisation the private...