NDU team visits Wapda House

A delegation of National Security and War Course - 2013/14 of National Defence University on Monday visited Wapda House to attend briefings relating to water and power issues in Pakistan. The delegation was headed by Brigadier Jamil Masood, Wapda Member (Power) Rizwan Ahmad, NTDC Managing Director Zia-ur-Rehman and other senior officers of Wapda were also present on the occasion.
Wapda Advisor (Diamer Basha Dam) Dr Izhar-ul-Haq and NTDC Consultant (Planning) Muhammad Daud made the presentations to the delegation on water and power sectors, respectively. The delegation was briefed that Wapda is fully focused on optimal utilisation of water and hydropower resources in view of the increasing demand of water and electricity in the country. Wapda is implementing a multi-pronged development plan to improve the water storage and hydropower generation capacity. The plan aims at supplementing water supplies for irrigation and adding low-cost hydel electricity in the system to reduce electricity tariff and provide relief to the consumers, he said.
"Under a medium-term plan of five to seven years, various projects with cumulative power generation capacity of more than 12,000 megawatt (MW) will be completed. Another 15,000MW of electricity will also be added to the national grid under a long-term plan of seven to twelve years, provided funds are made available for the purpose."
Some of the projects included in the medium and long-term plans are Neelum-Jhelum, Golen Gol, Tarbela 4th and 5th Extension, Keyal Khwar, Kurram Tangi, Diamer Basha Dam, Dasu Hydropower Project, Mohmand Dam and Bunji Hydropower Project, he added. The delegation was informed that storage capacity of water reservoirs is depleting due to natural phenomenon of sedimentation. Completion of various Wapda projects will help increase water storage capacity for agriculture sector in Pakistan.
In a presentation about power sector, the delegation was informed about the Pepco structure, generation sources, existing electricity generation capacity and its consumption as well as the measures taken by the government to overcome electricity shortage in the country. Later, Wapda Member (Power) and NDU delegation head exchanged the souvenirs as memento to the visit.