Lahore: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) is in the process of constructing numerous large-scale water storage projects that will significantly expand storage capacity and increase per capita availability of water in Pakistan.
The announcement was made by Wapda Member (Water) Shoaib Iqbal to a delegation of the Pakistan Air Force Air War College, Karachi, led by College Commandant Air Vice Marshal Pirzada Kamaluddin Siddiqui at Wapda House on December 14, a news source stated.
According to Iqbal, the project includes the construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam at a cost of approximately $14 billion. Due to financial constraints, it will be built in stages.
Presentations made by Small and Medium Dams Director Shahid Hamid and Engineer Muhammed Saleem, the general manager of Pakistan Electric Power Company’s revenue and commercial operations, described how the per capita water availability in Pakistan had declined to a mere 1,032 cubic metre in 2015 from 5,260 cubic metre in 1951 because of rapid population growth and the depletion of water reservoirs due to sedimentation.
Hamid said water security was essential for the country and national security, adding that Wapda is currently constructing projects of 4,856 megawatts (MW) cumulatively for hydropower development.
