LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), responsible for overseeing nearly \$70 billion in hydropower and water projects, is facing serious governance paralysis due to prolonged bureaucratic inaction and leadership voids.
Despite the passage of nine months, the federal government has failed to appoint permanent members for the key positions of water and power on Wapda’s governing body. As a result, these roles are being held on a ‘look after’ basis by Syed Ali Akhtar Shah and Muhammad Arfan, who are unable to make major financial or administrative decisions. The only permanent member, Naveed Asghar Chaudhry (Finance), is also serving as acting chairman following the abrupt resignation of former chairman Lt Gen (retd) Sajjad Ghani in June.
This interim arrangement has rendered the four-member board legally dysfunctional, as it fails to meet the quorum requirements mandated under the Wapda Act — a chairman and at least one regular member must be present for any official decision. Insiders warn that any decisions made under this setup could face legal or audit scrutiny.
The leadership crisis comes at a critical juncture, as Wapda is tasked with executing three of Pakistan’s largest-ever hydropower projects — Diamer-Bhasha, Dasu, and Mohmand dams — and plays a vital role in managing national water distribution via the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), which is itself entangled in legal disputes over board composition.
Sources claim that while Wapda alerted the Ministry of Water Resources about the impending vacancies as early as October 2024 and submitted a draft advertisement, the ministry neither processed it nor allowed Wapda to proceed independently. The outgoing members were unofficially retained until March 2025, after which temporary arrangements were made.
Attempts to obtain a response from Federal Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Moeen Wattoo went unanswered. Ministry officials, however, shifted the blame to the Prime Minister’s Office, saying the selection board nominations are still pending vetting.
Observers warn that continued administrative delays threaten to derail Wapda’s strategic infrastructure portfolio, with mounting financial, legal, and national development risks.
Story by Ahmad Fraz Khan
