ISLAMABAD: The federal government has appointed Naveed Asghar Chaudhry as the acting chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Water Resources on Saturday.
The move comes following the resignation of Lt Gen (retd) Sajjad Ghani, who stepped down earlier in the day after serving in the role for nearly three years.
This is not Asghar’s first time leading the organisation. He had briefly taken over as interim chairman in 2022, following the resignation of Lt Gen (retd) Muzammil Hussain. Asghar had handed over the role to Ghani three months later.
According to the ministry, Asghar will now serve as acting chairman for a period of three months or until a permanent appointment is made, whichever comes first. He will hold the additional charge alongside his current position as Wapda Member (Finance) under the Water Resources Division.
Background and Experience
During his tenure at Wapda, Asghar has been involved in oversight of major infrastructure projects. He accompanied former chairman Ghani on inspection visits to critical developments such as the Mohmand Dam on the River Swat.
In May, Ghani had visited the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, located near Muzaffarabad, a day after it suffered damage in cross-border attacks. He condemned the strikes, stating:
“International laws, including the Geneva Convention, prohibit attacks on water infrastructure—even during wartime.”
Ghani also played a key role in resolving a two-week-long sit-in staged by families affected by land acquisition for the Dasu Hydropower Project. He assured tribal elders that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a committee to address their grievances.
Despite some progress under Ghani’s leadership, several challenges remained. In April, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised the Dasu and Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Projects for significant financial mismanagement.
K-IV Project and Budget Constraints
Ghani had also overseen portions of the long-delayed Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV Project). Although he claimed several milestones had been achieved, the federal government’s allocation of just Rs3.2 billion against the Rs40 billion required for the project in the new budget has sparked fears of further delays.
Experts now warn that the people of Karachi could be forced to wait another decade for the project’s completion, originally launched in 2011.
