Federal Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo visited WAPDA House yesterday. During his interaction with the senior officers and employees, the Minister said that the Federal Government accords the highest priority to increasing water storage and adding clean, green, and economically affordable hydel electricity to the National Grid to stabilize the national economy. He said that several projects in the water and hydropower sectors are in various phases of completion for this purpose.
Given their significance for the Country, these projects are being vigorously pursued for completion. The Minister appreciated WAPDA for streamlining these vital projects and expressed the hope that they would be completed as per the schedule. He assured the Ministry of Water Resources that it would fully support WAPDA in completing its projects.
WAPDA has played a key role in national development since its inception in 1958. It is committed to Pakistan’s water, food, and energy security and has implemented the largest development portfolio, comprising eight mega projects in the water and hydropower sectors. These projects are destined to revolutionize Pakistan’s economic landscape with much-needed water and low-cost hydel electricity for the socio-economic uplift of the Country.
WAPDA’s under-construction projects include Diamer Basha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Dasu Hydropower Project, Tarbela 5th Extension, Kurram Tangi Dam Stage 1, Nai Gaj Dam, Kachhi Canal Extension and Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV). Scheduled for completion in a phased manner from 2026 to 2029-30, these projects will double the WAPDA hydel generation from 9,500 MW to 19,500 MW with an addition of about 10,000 MW of clean, green and low-cost hydel electricity to the National Grid.
These projects will also add 9.7 million acre-feet (MAF) to the country’s gross water storage, sufficient to irrigate another 3.9 million acres of land and provide 950 million gallons daily for drinking purposes to Karachi and Peshawar. These projects have also been providing about 35,000 job opportunities throughout Pakistan.
