LAHORE, Dec 10: A four-member World Bank power sector mission, headed by its financial analyst Mr Tjaarda P. Storm, visited the Wapda House here on Monday.

The mission, according to a Wapda press release, appreciated that in WB’s recent aid-memoir of October 2001 progress in the authority on the implementation of the power sector reforms programme had duly been acknowledged.

“The visiting mission was apprised that the government was firm in implementing the power sector restructuring and reforms programme,” the release added

The team was informed that “having already completed action on a majority of the key matrix items, continuing action on two major items of financial modelling and manpower transition Phase-III programme was progressing to the satisfaction while the Government of Pakistan was looking after the policy issues such as transfer of assets from Wapda to 12 corporatized companies, Nepra licence for the DISCOs, GENCOs and NTDC.”

The mission was also apprised of projections for the fiscal 2001-02 in comparison with the last financial year, including power sector development activities and the technical and financial requirements of Wapda.

The Wapda team at the meeting was led by its Chairman Lt-Gen Zulfiqar Khan and comprised member (power), chief executive officer (Pepco) and general managers concerned.

WAPDA LAND: Wapda chairman Lt-Gen Zulfiqar Ali Khan has said the distribution companies have retrieved billions of rupees of Wapda land from illegal occupants during the last three years.