SWABI: Water and Power Development Authority chairman retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain said on Friday that Wapda would establish a world-class university of engineering and technology and a postgraduate college in Tarbela Dam area.

Mr Hussain, who assumed the charge of his office on Aug 25 as 22nd chairman of Wapda after resignation of Zafar Mahmood, visited Tarbela Dam and held a meeting with the dam officials, All Pakistan Wapda Hydroelectric Workers Union and Tarbela Dam powerhouse employees chairman Afsar Khan.

The announcement about the establishment of university and college was made after the meeting. Wapda officials also accompanied the new chairman

who had come to inspect work on Tarbela Dam Fourth Extension Project where the Chinese company Sinhydro was continuing construction activities.

The Wapda chairman said that students from across the country would take admission in Tarbela Dam university of engineering and technology.

He also said that he wanted start of work on the varsity and college immediately.

Afsar Khan said during the meeting that all electric companies had announced Eid bonus for its employees and Wapda employees had been kept deprived despite the fact that all these companies run due to major Dam area contribution of Wapda employees and Tarbela Dam.

Mr Hussain said: “I announce and order today that Wapda workers would also get Eid bonus like the employees of the power companies.” It has been learnt that each employee of Wapda would get one basic pay as a bonus before Eidul Azha.

The Wapda workers also handed over a file to the chairman and sought hot area allowance. “Even Peshawar Electric Supply Company workers get the hot area allowance,” Mr Afsar said.

In reply, the Wapda chairman said that he would study the file and look into the possibility of awarding the allowance. Mr Hussain also said that all under-construction projects in the country would be completed during 2017-18.

He said that the federal government and Wapda were striving to end loadshedding completely before 2018.

The Wapda chairman also visited the under-construction fourth extension project and met with the Chinese and Wapda officials and reviewed progress and construction activities at the project.

Meanwhile, Tarbela Dam employees welcomed the announcement of bonus, saying that during peak period of power generation Tarbela Dam’s total capacity was 3,478 megawatts, but due to workers’ contribution they produced 3,606MW.

They said that with the support of chairman they would play their due role for further enhancing the generation.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2016