LAHORE: Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain says construction work on Diamer-Bhasha Dam will commence in next six to eight weeks after award of the contract.

He was addressing 9th Asian Young Geotechnical Engineering Conference and the 15th International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) on Thursday.

Department of Civil Engineering University of Engineering and Technology (UET) and Pakistan Geotechnical Engineering Society (PGES) under the aegis of International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) jointly organised the conferences.

Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, PGES President Engr Amjad Agha, PGES Secretary General Dr Tahir Masood and UET Civil Engineering Department Chairman Prof Dr Aziz Akbar were also present.

Mr Hussain said the under-construction Mohmand Dam and Dasu Hydropower Project (Stage-I) would be completed in 2024-25, claiming that the mega projects were going to change fate and destiny of the country. He added Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) was committed to adding five million acre feet (MAF) to water storage capacity and 4,600MW hydropower generation by 2025 and eight MAF water storages and 16,000MW power generation up to 2030 by completing various projects.

Earlier, PGES President Amjad Agha, in his welcome remarks, highlighted the importance of the conferences for advancement of geotechnical engineering in Pakistan. UET Civil Engineering Department and Conference Organizing Committee Chairman Professor Dr Aziz Akbar said the two conferences would bring together the best of ideas to discuss the new challenges in geotechnical engineering with special reference to transport infrastructure in the ongoing mega CPEC projects in Pakistan.

The PGES Secretary General and NESPAK Managing Director Dr. Tahir Masood and Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Professor Dr. Fazal Ahmad Khalid also addressed the inaugural session.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2019