ISLAMABAD: As devastating floods wreak havoc across Punjab, the federal government has overstretched the capabilities of Federal Flood Commission chairman Asjad Imtiaz Ali by assigning him at least five crucial but diversified responsibilities.

Mr Ali holds the portfolio of chief engineering adviser of the federal government. This position makes him responsible for advising the Ministry of Water and Power on all engineering-related issues and development and maintenance work in water and power sectors, including dams and irrigation and drainage systems not only under the control of the federal government and Wapda but also the provincial governments.

The commission was established by the federal government in late 1970s to take care of planning and execution of flood mitigation works through various federal and provincial agencies. It is responsible to coordinate with armed forces and disaster management authorities of federal and provincial governments in the event of an emergency.

The commission manages all flood-related issues on a countrywide basis

The commission manages all issues of flood management on a countrywide basis, including preparation of national flood protection plans, approval of flood control schemes prepared by provincial agencies, review damages to flood protection infrastructure and review plans for their rehabilitation.

It is also responsible for undertaking research in flood control and protection and formulation of recommendations regarding principles of reservoirs for flood control and criteria for dam filling and safety rules.

For almost a year, Mr Ali has also been working as chief executive officer of the Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) that is responsible for attracting investment for and facilitating setting up of projects in alternate energy resources, particularly wind, solar and biogas resources. This is a full-time job.

Sources said that dozens of investors who had obtained letters of interest (LOIs) and letters of support (LOSs) for setting up wind and solar projects, particularly those in Gharo and Jhimpir wind corridor, had failed to meet benchmarks and, hence, the AEDB’s board of directors had cancelled their leases and licences.

The AEDB has now asked the minister for water and power to help revive these LOIs and LOSs through the AEDB’s board of directors. A petition is also being pushed before the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for extension in their tariffs and licences.

Given the great workload, the sources said, Mr Ali had to attend AEDB meetings four days a week and sometimes could not get enough time to concentrate on matters of the flood commission.

Mr Ali has also been given the additional charge of head of multi-million-dollar Water Capacity Programme, funded by the Asian Development Bank for improving the capacity of all water sector- and irrigation-related professionals, agencies and departments.

He has also been looking after the job of federal member Indus River System Authority (the water sector regulator) for many years now and in that capacity has also held the portfolio of Irsa chairman in the past.

Under the Irsa act, the post of federal member of Irsa is a full-time job but due to a controversy between Sindh and Punjab over the nomination of the member, the federal government has asked Mr Ali to look after the job for about five years now.

As if these responsibilities were not enough, the government has also deemed it fit to assign him the part-time assignment of member of board of directors of the Islamabad Electric Supply Company.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2014