7^th June, 2007: ActionAid under its Worker's Rights portfolio organized a national dialogue on "Politics of Privatization" and launched a report on the subject initiated from the platform of ELBAG (Economic Literacy and Budget Advocacy Group).

The speakers at the occasion included Farooq Tariq, General Secretary Labor Party but unfortunately he couldn't make it to the event as he had been arrested by authorities, while others included Asim Sajjad; political activist associated with People's rights movement (PRM), political economy analyst and a teacher at LUMS and Khaliq Shah, political activist associated with labor party, member of anti privatization alliance and writer of the study.

The speakers highly condemned Farooq's arrest and termed the arrest action as illegal and hasty which will further destabilize the already shaky footing of the present regime. They emphasized the fact that privatization is a process which in no way could be de-linked from the political scenario of the country; privatization is as much a political problem as is an economic one. The speakers were of the opinion that the present government is an unconstitutional entity, which has taken over the country to further the imperialist agenda by employing neo-liberal system of economy. This system has only helped a specific class to put forward its interests and in this course, the working class is living hand to mouth in miserable and deteriorating conditions. One of the strategies being used by these imperialist forces and are enforced by this present dictatorial government is, “Privatization”. Privatization is not a simple process to make the sick units working rather it's a very intricate process, which involves and protects the interests of the imperial/elitist forces and further deteriorates the conditions of working class in the name of efficiency and revenue generation. Asim said that there is only one way to fight privatization and that is peoples way and this is the right and high time to go peoples' way.

At the occasion the Worker's leaders presented the inside stories of the privatized institutions as well as the ones which are being run by the military officials i.e. PTCL and Karachi shipyard respectively. The speakers included Azad Qadri, workers rights activist and worker's leader from PTCL worker's Union Islamabad chapter, Ghani Zaman Workers Union activist from Karachi Ship Yard. They highlighted the misdoings of the administration of their respective institutions and worsening worker's conditions. They highlighted the fact that in order to dismantle the workers force the unionization is being forcefully discouraged and the union leadership is systematically being removed.

Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, physicist, renowned educationist and peace activist and Azhar Lashari from ActionAid presented their views on privatization of essential services like education and water respectively. Dr. Pervez said that he has been in the education sector for more than thirty years and the quality of education has deteriorated to an alarming extent and we should seriously think to improve the quality and standards of education. He emphasized the fact that education is the only tool, which could lead towards a just society. Azhar Lashari highlighted the adverse effects of privatization of irrigation as well as the drinking water on the masses especially the already poor, discriminated and marginalized class. He said that basically the privatization of the essential resources like water has commoditized this resource and this process has lead the access to such an essential resource even more difficult for the poor, marginalized working class, be it the farmers of Sindh and Southern Punjab or the workers of urban areas. Aqsa khan, manager social and women rights unit, ActionAid facilitated the proceedings of this session.

Furthermore Tazeen Javed, independent researcher on the issues of labor rights gave a thorough over view of the labor laws under the ILO Convention and Pakistan National Law. Maria Khan, President District Committee Lahore Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party gave an evaluation of trade unionism in Pakistan in the context of communist movement in Pakistan. Rafique Baloch, Central Secretary National trade Union Balochistan highlighted the labor issues from Balochistan and demanded for a just development which could actually benefit the locals of Balochistan.

In the end Nasir Mansur from labor party presented a resolution demanding;

• The process of privatization should immediately be stopped
• The rights of trade unionism be restored on immediate basis, as per IRO 1969.
• The management of the privatized companies as well as of the factories should immediately stop retaliatory actions against the trade union members and leadership
• Farooq Tariq, general secretary labor party be released
• The unlawful suspension of PTCL workers leader Azad Qadri be taken back
• Secret agencies as well as the armed forces be restricted from interfering the matters of Karachi Shipyard.
• All the deals regarding privatization over the last 15 years be investigated publicly under an independent commission
• The labor force, working in in-formal sector of the economy should be taken under the formal and constitutional definition of labor.
• IRO 2002 and finance bill 2006 should immediately be suspended and new transparent legislation around the labor laws should be done.