UK Deputy High Commissioner, WAPDA Chairman discuss water projects

UK Deputy High Commissioner Mike Nithavrianakis and chairman of Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain met in February 2020 to discuss topics relating to water and hydropower sectors in Pakistan and their joint cooperation for executing WAPDA projects.

During the meeting Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain stated that the Authority (WAPDA) had been constructing a number of projects to add water storage and hydel power generation capacities for water, food and energy security of the nation and informed the Deputy High Commissioner that in 2018 WAPDA had successfully completed and commissioned three long-delayed mega hydropower projects with cumulative generation capacity of 2487 MW.

The installed generation capacity of WAPDA hydroelectric power surged to 9389 MW from 6902 MW, registering an increase of 36 percent within twelve months due to the commissioning of these hydropower projects.

Apart from the finished projects WAPDA also completed Kachhi Canal Project (Phase-1) in 2017. The aim of this project was to irrigate 72000 acres of barren land in Dera Bugti in the district of Balochistan.

Ongoing and future WAPDA projects were also discussed at the briefing. The Authority stated that in the short term they were committed to supplementing   five MAF (Million Acre-Foot) and 4600 MW hydropower generation by 2025 and that ultimately, by 2030 after the completion of several other projects, eight MAF water storage and 16000 MW power generation would be added.

The other projects include the following:

• Mohmand Dam
• Kurram Tangi Dam
• Nai Gaj Dam
• Dasu Dam
• Diamer Basha Dam

UK Deputy High Commissioner demonstrated deep interest in projects that WAPDA is involved in and praised the endeavors made by the Authority to develop and enhance the standard of living both economically and socially in Pakistan through its water projects.