WAPDA to add 11,369 MW hydel power, 11.7 MAF water storage by 2028-29: PAF Air War College delegation briefed at WAPDA House

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February 21, 2022: Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd), briefing a delegation of PAF Air War College, Karachi, has said that water security is an integral part of national security. WAPDA is constructing as many as 10 mega projects to help ensure water, food and energy security of Pakistan. Diamer Basha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Dasu Hydropower Project, Kurram Tangi Dam and Nai Gaj Dam are to name a few.

The delegation was headed by Air Vice Marshal Hussain Ahmad Siddiqui visited WAPDA House today to participate a briefing about Role and Functions of WAPDA, various Development Plans and Water Security Challenges of Pakistan. WAPDA Members and senior officers were also present on the occasion.

Highlighting water and hydropower scenario in Pakistan, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) said that per capita water availability in the country has come down from 5650 cubic meter in 1951 to an alarming level of 908 cubic meter per annum, pushing us to the stage of water-scarce country. Pakistan can store only 10 percent of its annual river flows against the world average of 40 percent. We have merely 30 days carry over capacity of water in comparison to India with 170 days, Egypt with 700 days and USA with 900 days. The carry over water storage capacity will have to be increased from 30 days to 120 days. Likewise, the low-cost hydel electricity - which stands at 9406 MW at present - also requires to be drastically improved from existing 30% to at least 50% in the National Grid.

Briefing the delegation about the development plans, the Chairman said that WAPDA is implementing multi-pronged strategy for unprecedented hydropower and water storage development in Pakistan under vision of “Decade of Dams”, through an innovative financial strategy. On completion of these projects, the water storage capacity in Pakistan will increase from existing 13.6 million acre feet (MAF) to 25.3 MAF with addition of 11.7 MAF irrigating another 3.5 million acres of land. The additional water storage will increase carry over capacity of Pakistan from 30 to 45 days. These projects will also add 4,543 MW by 2026 and yet another 6,853 MW of hydel energy to the National Grid by 2028-29. Hence, installed generation capacity of WAPDA will surge from existing 9,406 MW to 20,802 MW with more than 120% increase by 2028-29 in a phased manner. In addition to creating about 35,000 employment opportunities, the projects are also contributing significantly towards socio-economic uplift of under developed areas.

Following the briefing, there was an intensive interactive session on the subject to further update the participants about ongoing and future projects of WAPDA.