LAHORE: Per capita water availability in the country has decreased to 1,032 cubic metre from 5,260 cubic metre in 1951 because of rapid growth in population and depleting storage capacity of the reservoirs due to sedimentation.

During a briefing, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Adviser (Diamer Basha Dam) Izharul Haq told a delegation of Command and Staff College, Quetta, which visited Wapda House on Tuesday. Pakistan can store only 10pc of its annual river flow against the world average of 40pc.

Wapda is committed to optimum development of water and hydropower resources in the country and working on a comprehensive strategy for their exploitation. He apprised the delegation about various hydel projects being implemented by the authority, including 1,410MW Tarbela 4th Extension and the 969MW Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project, which will start generating electricity in 2017.

In another briefing, Pakistan Electric Power Company General Manager (Revenue and Commercial Operation) Muhammad Saleem briefed the delegation about power sector reforms, existing generation capabilities, generation mix, consumption patterns, line losses and factors behind increase in electricity tariff.

The delegation was informed about the load forecast, generation additions and long-term transmission expansion plan to evacuate electricity from power houses to distribution companies.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2016