LAHORE: Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman retired Lt-Gen Muhammad Saeed says the timely completion of ongoing projects is vital for Pakistan’s water, food and energy security, with particular focus on fast-tracking rehabilitation work at the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP).

He was presiding over a high-level meeting at Wapda House on Wednesday.

The chairman directed officials to strictly adhere to project timelines and adopt best management practices for efficient execution.

The meeting was attended by members of the authority, general managers and other senior officers.

During the briefing, the chairman was informed that Wapda currently maintains three major water reservoirs - Tarbela Dam, Mangla Dam and Chashma Barrage - with combined live storage capacity of 13.3 million acre-feet (MAF) that support irrigated agriculture and help mitigate floods. The authority also operates 22 hydel power stations with total installed capacity of 9,459 MW, including the NJHP, which provide about 33 billion units of low-cost electricity annually to the national grid at just Rs. 3.83 per unit.

The meeting reviewed progress on eight under-construction mega projects including Diamer Basha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Dasu Hydropower Project and Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project. These projects, scheduled for completion between 2026 and 2030, are expected to add 9.7 MAF of water storage capacity and 9,025 MW of clean electricity generation.

Chairman Saeed stressed the need for initiating new projects at the earliest to meet the country’s growing water and energy demands. He emphasised improving organisational efficiency and maintaining public trust as key priorities.

“Completion of these projects on time is non-negotiable for Pakistan’s sustainable development,” he said, adding that Wapda must uphold the highest standards of transparency and performance.

The meeting also discussed Wapda’s financial strategy, funding challenges, human resource management, healthcare systems and sports board affairs.

The chairman directed officials to explore all possible options to arrange funds for timely completion of projects, including engagement with international financial institutions.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2025