British Deputy High Commissioner Mike Nithavrianakis met Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) for conversing over water projects at WAPDA House.
The matters relating to water and hydropower sectors in Pakistan and mutual cooperation for implementing WAPDA projects were discussed during the meeting.
the Chairman said while speaking on the occasion that WAPDA has been constructing a number of projects to add water storage and hydel power generation capacities for water, food and energy security of the country. Support from friendly countries like United Kingdom (UK) is of immense importance for implementation of these projects.
British Deputy High Commissioner was apprised that WAPDA successfully completed and commissioned three long-delayed mega hydropower projects with cumulative generation capacity of 2487 MW in 2018 during a briefing.
With commissioning of these projects, the installed generation capacity of WAPDA hydroelectric power surged to 9389 MW from 6902 MW, registering an increase of 36 percent in just one year. Besides, WAPDA also completed Kachhi Canal Project (Phase-1) in 2017 to irrigate 72000 acres of barren land in Dera Bugti District of Balochistan.
UK Deputy High Commissioner was also briefed about the ongoing and future projects of WAPDA. He was informed that WAPDA is committed to adding five MAF to water storage and 4600 MW hydropower generation by 2025 in short term, and eight MAF water storage and 16000 MW power generation up to 2030 in medium term by completing various projects. These projects include Mohmand Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, Nai Gaj Dam, Dasu, and Diamer Basha Dam.
Expressing keen interest in WAPDA projects, UK Deputy High Commissioner commended the efforts made by WAPDA for economic development and social uplift of Pakistan.