Wapda’s mandate is limited to construction of dams, hydropower projects, operation & maintenance of existing stations.
LAHORE: This letter refers to news content that continues to appear in your esteemed newspaper from time to time in which Wapda is held responsible for load-shedding in the country. Regrettably, this viewpoint owes itself to a misconception regarding Wapda’s functions, role and mandate. It may be clarified for the benefit of your readers that subsequent to introduction of the power sector reforms and unbundling of Wapda’s power wing in 2007, Wapda’s mandate is only limited to the construction of new dams and hydropower projects and operation and maintenance of the existing hydel power stations. The rest of the matters relating to the power sector, including load-shedding, do not fall within the ambit of the organisation.
Matters such as thermal power generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, load-shedding, line losses, recovery of electricity bills, payment to independent power producers and other organisations etc., are now the responsibilities of public-sector corporate entities. These entities include the Pakistan Electric Power Company, the Central Power Purchasing Agency, the National Transmission and Despatch Company, the power generation companies and power distribution companies. It is hoped that the above will help clarify confusion on this count.
Muhammad Abid Rana
Director, Public Relations Division, WAPDA
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2013.
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