Hydroelectric power: WAPDA aims to execute projects swiftly

Chairman says work will be fast-tracked after removing hurdles

LAHORE: Newly appointed Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman General (Retired) Muzammil Hussain has declared that his first priority will be to complete the under-construction hydroelectric power projects in the shortest possible time.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Hussain said he would ensure that he did justice to his new position and would perform his duties with the objective of completing the assignments of national significance.

“It is a huge responsibility which puts enormous pressure on me and my team to meet the government’s agenda of completing hydel projects by the deadline,” he said.

“Side-by-side construction work on ready-to-construct water and hydroelectric power projects will also be initiated on a fast-track basis by removing the bottlenecks.”

The chairman interacted with the employees of Wapda and said “we will work together for the well-being of staff members, improvement in the organisation and development of the country.”

Hussain is the 22nd Wapda chairman and prior to his appointment he served the Pakistan Army for about 38 years.

He took the charge after former chairman Zafar Mahmood resigned apparently over the dissatisfaction expressed by the prime minister in the wake of delay in implementation of hydroelectric power projects. However, Mahmood cited personal reasons for quitting the job.

The prime minister a few days ago inspected the Neelum Jhelum hydroelectric power project and intended to visit the Tarbela fourth extension project, which has been delayed by almost one year. He wanted the completion of both the projects by next year.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2016.

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