LAHORE - A delegation of National Security and War Course – 2013-14 of National Defence University led by Brigadier Jamil Masood visited Wapda House on Monday.
The purpose of the visit was to attend briefings relating to water and power issues in the country. Member (Power) Rizwan Ahmad, NTDC Managing Director Zia-ur-Rehman and other senior officers of Wapda were present on the occasion.
Wapda Advisor (Diamer Bhasha Dam) Dr. Izhar-ul-Haq and NTDC Consultant (Planning) Muhammad Daud gave presentations. The delegation was briefed that Wapda was fully focused on optimal utilisation of water and hydropower resources in view of the increasing demand of water and electricity in the country. Wapda was implementing a multi-pronged development plan to improve the water storage and hydropower generation capacity, they were told.
“Under a medium-term plan of five to seven years, various projects with cumulative power generation capacity of more than 12000MW will be completed. Another 15000 MW of electricity will also be added to the National Grid under a long-term plan of seven to twelve years, provided funds are made available for the purpose,” informed the delegation.
They were briefed that some of the projects included in the medium and long-term plans were Neelum-Jhelum, Golen Gol, Tarbela 4th and 5th Extension, Keyal Khwar, Kurram Tangi, Diamer Bhasha Dam, Dasu Hydropower Project, Mohmand Dam and Bunji Hydropower Project. The delegation was informed that storage capacity of water reservoirs was depleting due to natural phenomenon of sedimentation.
Completion of various Wapda projects would help increase water storage capacity for agriculture sector in Pakistan, said the Wapda official.
In a presentation about power sector, the delegation was informed about the Pepco structure, generation sources, existing electricity generation capacity and its consumption as well as the measures taken by the government to overcome electricity shortage in the country.
Later, Wapda Member (Power) and NDU delegation head exchanged the souvenirs as memento to the visit.