Remembering Engineer Rashid Ahmad Chaudhry

The sudden demise on March 18, 2004 of Engineer Rashid Ahmad Chaudhry, a former General Manager of Water Wing, WAPDA, was a sad and shocking news for a vast number of his friends and admirers besides his own kith and kin. He died of cardiac arrest while talking to his family members.
Rashid Chaudhry, 72, was an eminent Civil Engineer, a friend of friends and a perfect gentleman imbibed with numerous qualities of head and heart. During his 38 years of WAPDA service, he held several high positions.
He was General Manager (Water) Central Division from 1990 to 1992' where he rendered valuable services in the implementation of various SCARPS spread all over the Punjab.
SCARP comprised construction of tubewells, surface and sub-surface drains. His responsibilities also included co-ordination with the Punjab Government; all the donor Agencies like World Bank, Asian Development Bank, ODA and KFW; Contract Management; Monitoring and Quality Assurance of major Projects.
For four years, he was General Manager and Project Director of the gigantic Tarbela Dam Project (1986-1990) where he was overall incharge of the operation and maintenance of Tarbela Dam, Resettlement Affairs, Project Management and smooth operation of WAPDA College, Schools, Hospitals and other facilities.
He was Chief E nginyr (Wat Field eratiqris d chief Engineer (Civil) Power Wing from 1977 to 1986. Earlier from 1966 to 19.77, he was Superintending Engineer (Civil).
During this period, among many other assignments, his important responsibility was the construction supervision of beautiful WAPDA House in the heart of Lahore city which is a feat of engineering and a master piece of modernity and architectural ingenuity.
After graduation from Engineering University, Lahore in 1954, Rashid Chaudhry, started his career with Gammons Pakistan Limited as Assistant Engineer and later as Resident Engineer where he supervised the construction of large buildings with RCC framed structure, roads, water supply and Sewerage System.
Incidentally, the WAPDA House was also built by the Gammons.
Rashid Chaudhry was the Founder President of Welfare Association of Retired WAPDA Officers (WARWO) which was formed in 1994.
He used to take keen interest in the problems and welfare of retired WAPDA Officers which included complicated matters like pension and gratuity, proper medical facilities to the retired personnel and their other financial matters held up in WAPDA.
He would frequently meet the Chairman, Members of the Authority and other officers down the line to discuss and solve problems of retired officers which was a great help to them.