LAHORE, Oct 18: Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Raghib Shah said on Thursday the water sector projects were vital for socio-economic development of the country, particularly backward and remote regions such as Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

He expressed these views in a meeting with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar.

Speaking on the occasion, the chairman said Wapda was working on a number of large and medium-sized dams in Fata, including Gomal Zam Dam in South Waziristan, Kurram Tangi Dam in North Waziristan, Munda Dam in Mohmand and Bara Dam in Khyber Agency.

Dilating upon benefits of the projects, he said these multi-purpose schemes would ensure availability of water for irrigated agriculture, help mitigate devastating floods, and generate low-cost hydel electricity. In addition, lots of employment opportunities would also be available to the locals in Fata during construction as well as operation and maintenance phases of these projects. The job availability to the tribesmen would help alleviate poverty in the area, he said.

Apprising the governor of the progress on the projects, the chairman said Gomal Zam Dam Project was likely to be completed in January 2013, as the dam and hydropower component was 99 per cent complete, while progress on irrigation and flood protection component of the project stood at 47 per cent.

Consultants for Kurram Tangi Dam had been appointed who were engaged in reviewing the detailed engineering design.

Following completion of the pre-qualification process of the contractors, the tender documents would soon be issued to qualified firms, he said.

He briefed the governor that detailed engineering design of Munda Dam was being prepared at present.

The chairman also apprised the governor of the progress on other medium-sized projects in Fata. He also discussed with him in detail the issues relating to Wapda projects being executed in the tribal region.

The governor appreciated the efforts made by Wapda in executing the projects in Fata. He directed the Fata Secretariat to provide every possible support to help resolve the issues pertaining to Wapda projects.