WAPDA Chairman Calls for Urgent Water Security Measures, Says No Major Dam Built After Tarbela and Mangla
Islamabad: Chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Muhammad Saeed, has stressed the need for urgent action to strengthen Pakistan’s water security, saying that no major dam has been constructed in the country since the completion of the Tarbela and Mangla dams, while India has built around 5,000 dams.
Speaking during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, Muhammad Saeed said Pakistan was facing increasing water scarcity and required long-term planning to improve water storage capacity.
The committee was informed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had identified 227 locations with river encroachments, although satellite imagery was available for only 18 sites. Punjab reported 2,737 encroachment locations.
Committee members emphasized the need to adopt modern technology for flood forecasting and river management. The chairman also proposed a special meeting to discuss the construction of water storage projects on the Chenab River and the implications of the Indus Waters Treaty for Pakistan’s future water security. Representatives from the Indus Water Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the World Bank, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the Federal Flood Commission are expected to be invited.
WAPDA’s chairman also said the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project remains non-operational due to ongoing inquiries, expressing hope that it would be restored by March 2028.
Regarding the Nai Gaj Dam project in Sindh, he said work remains suspended because of ongoing court proceedings. He noted that the project is expected to help prevent flooding in Dadu and Sehwan and irrigate approximately 28,000 acres of land. According to Saeed, around Rs23 billion has already been spent on the project, while the original contract was terminated after the contractor allegedly submitted a fake bank guarantee.
