Islamabad, October 31, 2019 (PPI-OT):Water Resources Federal Minister Muhammad Faisal Vawda along with the World Bank President David R. Malpass today visited Tarbela Dam Project and had a round of the Main Dam and the Power House of Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project. Water Resources Federal Secretary Muhammad Ashraf, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) and World Bank senior officials accompanied him during the visit.
Speaking on the occasion, World Bank President David R. Malpass expressed his pleasure over completion of Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project within time and less than estimated cost, adding that the work on the project is impressive. The efforts of Government of Pakistan particularly Ministry of Water Resources and the Minister Faisal Vawda for improvement of water resources in Pakistan are applauded.
President World Bank appreciated the efforts of Ministry of Water Resources especially the Minister for resolving the issues in relation to completion of Dassu Hydral Power Project, construction of Dams and other related projects. The team of World Bank especially recognized the untiring efforts of Faisal Wadda, Minister for water Resources for effectively coping with the challenges related to water issues in Pakistan. Earlier, Water Resources Federal Minister Muhammad Faisal Vawda thanked the World Bank for the cooperation it has been providing to Pakistan for harnessing water and hydropower resources since 1960.He expressed the hope that this cooperation will further enhance for implementation of various projects in the days to come.
Vawda said we are taking comprehensive and effective measures for improvement of water resources and construction of dams in Pakistan. Pakistan will witness more progress in hydropower and water sectors with cooperation of Water Bank in future. Faisal Vawda, Federal Minister for Water Resources further added. He said 523 billion units of electricity have been contributed by Tarbela Hydel Power Station to the National Grid.
Welcoming the World Bank President at Tarbela, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) commended that the World Bank not only helped broker Indus Water Treaty between Pakistan and India but also administered the entire financial arrangements with assistance of the friendly countries to complete Indus Basin Replacement Works, which included two mega dams namely Mangla and Tarbela, five barrages and nine inter-river link canals to divert water from the Western Rivers to the Eastern Rivers.
He also appreciated the World Bank for financial support for Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project, Dasu Hydropower Project and upcoming Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project. WAPDA is looking forward to World Bank’s support for other projects, located on Indus Cascade. The projects on Indus Cascade have the great potential to store water and generate phenomenal hydel electricity, he further said. Briefing the World Bank President about the benefits of Tarbela Dam Project, the Chairman said that as many as 378 MAF water has been released from Tarbela Reservoir to meet irrigation needs of the country. In addition, Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project, commissioned last year, has also generated 5.6 billion units – more than the generation envisaged in PC-I of the project.
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