KARACHI (APP) - The trade unions of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) have urged the government to withdraw the privatisation of the utility company with immediate affect. They said that KESC was privatized to make it a profit making organisation, but its losses have been expanded. In addition, the utility company owes billions of rupees to PSO, WAPDA and SSGC for fuel and electricity purchase. In addition, KESC is getting billions of rupees from the Governemnt of Pakistan in subsidies. Union leaders claimed that with such as wide network and 2.3 million consumers, KESC needed at least 37,000 workers and 6000 third party contract workers against the present 11,000 employees. KESC does not need retrenchment. They also demanded for withdrawal of false cases against KESC workers and restoration o an illegal office order. Addressing a press conference here Wednesday at Karachi Press Club, chairman KESC Labour Union (CBA) Mohammad Akhlaq, general secretary Peoples Workers Union Latif Mughal and president Kasoti Union Arbab Asad said that the management should immediately remove the harassment within the utility company and restore confidence among its workers. They were of the view that KESC should generate its own electricity from its power units and end the menace of load shedding in the city. Union leaders also demanded of KESC management to stop looting under fuel adjustment charges and also send accurate utility bills based on correct meter reading. They said that KESC workers did not resort to agitation as their protest was peaceful. Some unknown elements, most probably from managements side, had attacked the KESC head office and damaged property, before the CBA leadership arrived at the head office on January 20, 2011. They claimed that not a single stone was pelted during the 85 hours long sit in organised by workers unions. They thanked the government, President Asif Ali Zardari, Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and federal and provincial ministers and all the political parties, federations and trade unions across Pakistan for the support and hectic efforts for the restoration of retrenched KESC employees. Clarifying the situation, they said KESC employees had already rejected the VSS scheme which was voluntary. The CBA had challenged the retrenchment of 4500 employees in NIRC which granted stay. But the KESC management violated the court orders and fired 4500 employees. We again approached the NIRC, but the judge proceeded on leave and the unions did not have any other choice except to stage peaceful sit in in front of KESC head office.