WAPDA chief steps down

Lt Gen (retd) Muzammil Hussain says he is quitting over ‘personal reasons’

LAHORE:

Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Muzammil Hussain has tendered his resignation citing “personal reasons” for the move.

He was first appointed as Wapda chairman on August 24, 2016 by the then-government of the PML-N, and then offered a second-successive term of five years in August 2021 during the PTI’s tenure.

Talking to a private TV news channel, Muzammil said he was stepping down from the post because of “some personal reasons” and would talk in “detail” after the acceptance of his resignation.

“I have sent my resignation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Right now I cannot share the details for my resignation [until it is accepted],” he said.

Prior to his appointment as the Wapda chief, he served in the Pakistan Army for about 38 years.

During his service in the army, he discharged his duties on a number of important positions including chief instructor in Command and Staff College Quetta and division commander in Gilgit-Baltistan. He also served as the inspector general (training & evaluation) in General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi and commanded 30 Corps Gujranwala.

Also read: WAPDA chairman laments decline in water availability

Last month, PM Shehbaz had urged the authorities to expedite work on the 4,800-megawatt Diamer-Bhasha Dam to ensure its completion by 2026 instead of its currently scheduled time of 2029.

The premier was briefed by Lt Gen (retd) Muzzamil on the project.

“I insist to go ahead with its timeline of 2029 and complete it by 2026-27. It will be a miracle if we achieve it. Nothing is impossible in this world. We can achieve it if we advance in unison,” PM Shehbaz said on the occasion.

It was a gigantic task and assured all-out support from the federal government to complete the project as early as possible, he assured and suggested encouraging the international investors for future fundraising.

He also announced the construction of a 13km Babusar Top tunnel to ensure all-year-round traffic flow and asked the authorities to submit a study report to his office.

PM Shehbaz expressed faith in Lt Gen (retd) Muzzamil and claimed that he was “sure” that those working on the project will “keep up” their efforts.

However, PM Shehbaz also took the opportunity to criticise the former ruling party, PTI, saying he “gets goosebumps” when he is briefed on developmental projects as he comes to realise “how much time has been wasted in the past four years”.

He later told Lt Gen (retd) Muzzamil to construct a hospital in the region, as that was missing, and people had to make do with a small dispensary or travel for medical care.