Latest news with #Wapda
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Arshad Nadeem says land promises after Olympic gold were ‘fake'
Pakistan's Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem has said that promises of land made to him following his historic victory at the Paris Olympics were never honoured. Speaking to the media in London, the javelin thrower revealed that while he did receive most of the cash rewards and other gifts pledged by government officials and private sponsors, the promised plots of land were 'fake.' 'They made many announcements, especially about plots of land. But if you look at the reality, none of those materialised. Alhamdulillah, I have received all the other rewards,' he told reporters. Wapda to present cash award to Arshad Nadeem Nadeem was awarded over Rs300 million in cash by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Punjab and Sindh governments, as well as the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was also promised various gifts by private companies, including a lifetime fuel supply and a residential apartment. Despite the unfulfilled commitments, the 27-year-old athlete said he was moving forward with a renewed focus on his training and future competitions. 'There are major targets ahead. Right now, I am just concentrating on my preparation,' he added. Arshad Nadeem made history earlier this month by becoming the first Pakistani athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field.
Business Recorder
12-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
NHP issue: Gandapur seeks PM's backing for ‘innovative' solution
ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur has sought Prime Minister's support in out-of-the-box solution to Net Hydel Profit (NHP) issue pending resolution between Wapda and provinces. In a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he sought his attention to Article 161(2) of the Constitution, which mandates that the net profits earned from a hydroelectric station shall be paid to the entitled province at a rate determined by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). The Kazi Committee Methodology (KCM) was approved by the CCI in January 1991 and to that effect the first payment of Rs. 6 billion was made to the then North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) in 1992. The KCM was also endorsed by the National Finance Commission (NFC), upheld by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1997, and repeatedly reaffirmed in CCI meetings held in 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022. NHP methodology, power projects' transfer: Wapda, provinces continue to have serious differences Recognizing the financial challenges faced by the GoKP, the Federal Government introduced an 'interim arrangement,' which was duly endorsed by the CCI in 2016. This arrangement provided for NHP payments at a rate of Rs. 1.10/kWh with a 5% annual indexation, incorporated into Wapda's generation tariff, impacting the consumer tariff by approximately 18 paisa per unit. Accordingly, Wapda began making payments to Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; however, these payments have not been made consistently as per the agreed arrangement. This has resulted in an outstanding shortfall of Rs. 75 billion for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Subsequently, in response to a summary moved by the Provincial Government for the full implementation of KCM, the CCI, in its 37th meeting held on April 24, 2018, constituted a committee under the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission (DCPC) to deliberate on the determination of net profit rates in light of CCI decisions. This committee presented its report in December 2019, which was endorsed by the CCI. The report confirmed Rs. 128 billion as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's rightful share and Rs. 52 billion for Punjab for FY 2016-17, based on KCM. Subsequently, another committee was constituted to propose an 'Out-of-the-Box' solution for the payment of Net Hydel Profit to the entitled provinces. According to the Chief Minister, the 'Out-of-the-box' committee has held five meetings, wherein it was decided that all stakeholders would submit their proposals. The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has already shared its proposal with the Planning Commission. The Chief Minister further stated that given the severe financial constraints facing the province, it is imperative to expedite the resolution of this matter. He urged the Prime Minister Office to direct the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission to convene a meeting of the 'Out-of- the-Box' Committee at the earliest to ensure a just and equitable resolution, hoping that PM's leadership would facilitate this process and be instrumental in securing the rightful share of resources for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in line with constitutional provisions and prior CCI decisions. 'I remain confident that, under your (PM Shehbaz Sharif) leadership, we can navigate these challenges and ensure a fair and transparent resolution that upholds the principles of justice and equity for all stakeholders, 'Gandapur added. The KPK government has proposed a second interim arrangement to settle the outstanding dues by increasing the electricity tariff by Rs.1/kWh. Additionally, the province reiterated its earlier stance of transferring the hydro power stations to the respective provinces. Regarding delay in NHP payments, the GoKP argued that Wapda is no longer revenue collecting agency for the power sector, as CPPA-G is acting as a collecting agency of the Federal Government, therefore, the payment should be made by CPPA-G, under Power Division. The government of KP presented following three proposals: Proposal i: payment of NHP by Federal Govt. as guaranteed under Article 161 (2) of the Constitution, Presidential Order No 3, decisions of CCI from 1993 to 2022 and subsequent calculations made by Jehanzeb Committee in the report approved by CCI December 23, 2019. Federal government may consider financing of power component of a hydro power station from PSDP on the analogy of Dam component. So that the revenues generated may be made available for NHP payments to the entitled provinces: Proposal ii: transfer the existing Hydro Power stations, currently owned by Wapda, to the respective provinces, as was previously proposed by GoPb. The Power Generation Policies of 1995 and 2015 otherwise allow transfer of power stations to the provinces. Federal government may pay the outstanding NHP payments as per KCM to the provinces till the transfer of hydro power stations to the provinces. O&M can be retained by Wapda. Proposal III: Till the finalization options, the Federal Government may announce a 2nd interim arrangement of NHP payment by increasing consumer end tariff by Re1/KWh to generate the requisite funds. Provincial government suggests that Instead of Wapda, CPPA-G may directly pay NHP to the entitled provinces through ESCROW account. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt sets up probe into NJHP tunnel collapse
Listen to article Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted an inquiry commission to take legal action against those responsible for the collapse of the tunnel at the Rs500 billion Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP). Speaking at a press conference, Iqbal said the commission, headed by a retired judge, was formed on the basis of findings from two separate committees. He added that the commission will hear those involved before initiating legal proceedings. According to the terms of reference (ToRs), the commission will recommend legal, administrative, and financial actions against those responsible. It will categorise accountability as gross negligence, procedural misconduct, or potential criminal liability as the case may be, reads a notification. Iqbal termed the failure of the NJHP an "expensive and glaring mistake". He said that the restoration of the 969 megawatts project that is closed since May last year, was still not in sight as the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) had not yet submitted the PC-I for the revival. In May this year, Water Resources Minister Muhammad Moeen had informed the National Assembly that the restoration process of the NJHRP was expected to take an additional two years to complete. A few months ago, Wapda had proposed to the government that either the tunnel should be rebuilt with an estimated cost of Rs250-300 billion or it should be repaired by spending around Rs20 billion. The government had also engaged an international panel of experts (IPOE) to investigate the structural issues affecting the project's Head Race Tunnel (HRT). The panel was tasked with identifying the causes of recent challenges. The report highlighted areas of the tunnel floor that required attention, alongside recommendations for enhanced ventilation, lighting, and worker safety measures. In May this year, the federal cabinet approved to setup a commission of inquiry under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 2017, to investigate the NJHP. Justice (retd) Tariq Abbasi is the chairman of the inquiry commission, which has time till August 20 to finalise its report, according to the notification. Other members include Shahid Khan and the secretaries of Establishment Division, Water Resources Division and the Engineer-in-Chief of Pak Army. The ToRs of the commission entail a sequential analysis of all key decisions in planning, design, execution, and monitoring; establishing clear accountability for omissions, delays, and misjudgements that led to the tunnel collapse. The commission has been tasked to verify compliance with engineering standards, project management protocols, and directives from Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) and the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and other regulatory bodies. It is required to identify the responsible individuals and determine whether failures in geological assessments, tunnel lining, and water pressure management resulted from negligence, incompetence, or deliberate misconduct, linking specific lapses to responsible officials. The commission is assessing the role of oversight bodies, consultants, and contractors to identify failures in risk mitigation, contractual obligations, or misleading assurances, and fixing responsibility accordingly. At the press conference, Iqbal also spoke about the prevailing economic conditions and the achievements of this government in the past one year. He said that the government successfully brought inflation down to an average of 4.5% — the lowest since 2016. "Effective fiscal consolidation and external sector stability underscore Pakistan's stronger-than-expected recovery trajectory, he said, adding that the economic performance reflected prudent economic management and signals growing confidence in Pakistan's ability to navigate external shocks and sustain a path towards stability and inclusive growth. To a question about the government's inability to meet investment targets, the minister said that the investors were worried about Pakistan's macroeconomic stability and judicial challenges. He added that after bringing political and economic stability and making constitutional changes through the 26th amendment, the investors' confidence has been restored. He expressed the hope that the foreign investment would start picking up from this fiscal year. Pakistan's macroeconomic performance in FY2025 demonstrated resilience despite global headwinds, with GDP growth rising to 2.7% and inflation dropping sharply to an average of 4.5%, reads the development update report that the Planning Ministry released on Thursday. It added that the government's strategic focus on high-impact, inclusive, and export-led projects under the PSDP aligns with "Uraan Pakistan" priorities, emphasising exports, digitalisation, green growth, energy security, and social equity.
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Mohmand dam project: Wapda chief reviews construction progress
LAHORE: Chairman Wapda Naveed Asghar Chaudhry visited Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project being constructed across River Swat in Tribal District Mohmand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Member Water Syed Ali Akhtar Shah also accompanied him. During the visit, the Chairman reviewed construction progress on various work fronts including spillway, powerhouse, main dam, diversion system and power intake. The Chairman noted it with satisfaction that Wapda has started construction work on the main dam in May this year after completing several pre-requisites such as river diversion tunnels, upstream and downstream coffer dams, dam plinth and excavation of left and right abutments and dam foundations etc. The GM/PD Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project, flanked by the Project Managers of the Consultants and the Contractors briefed the Chairman about progress on each work front. He was informed that construction work is being carried out simultaneously on 14 different sites. Construction of powerhouse building has also started; manufacturing of electro-mechanical equipment is at advanced stages, while construction work on the spillway is ahead of schedule. Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project is expected to commence electricity generation in 2027 following completion of the dam, the Chairman was briefed. Highlighting the importance of Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project for irrigated agriculture, flood mitigation and generation of affordable hydel electricity, the Chairman directed the Consultants and the Contractor to put in their maximum efforts for completion of the Project according to the schedule. It is important to note that Mohmand Dam, with 213-meter height, is the 5th highest Concrete Faced-Rock fill Dam (CFRD) in the world. It has a gross water storage capacity of 1.29 MAF to irrigate 18,233 acres of new land in Mohmand and Charsadda, in addition to supplementing irrigation supplies to as many as 160,000 acres of existing command area of Lower Swat and Doaba Canals emanating from Munda Headworks. With installed power capacity of 800MW, the Project will provide 2.86 billion units of green, clean and affordable hydel electricity to the National Grid every year. Mohmand Dam will not only mitigate the impact of floods for Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera but also provide 300 million gallons per day of drinking water to Peshawar. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
NHP methodology, power projects' transfer: Wapda, provinces continue to have serious differences
ISLAMABAD: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and provincial governments continue to have serious differences regarding the methodology of Net Hydel Profit (NHP) and the transfer of power projects to respective provinces, sources in the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives told Business Recorder. Sharing the details, sources said that a Technical Committee comprising representatives from Wapda and the provinces is holding discussions to evolve a consensus on a workable formula. During the 5th meeting of the Committee held on January 10, 2025, it was agreed that members would furnish firmed-up proposals to be discussed in the next meeting. Based on input from stakeholders, a report will be submitted to the Council of Common Interests (CCI). KP demands Re1/unit hike: NHP: centre-provinces row reignites As per the decision, the provincial governments, Wapda, and Power Planning and Monitoring Company (PPMC)—representing the Power Division, Ministry of Energy— submitted written comments along with their proposals, which are as follows: Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP): The provincial government emphasised to make the payments of NHP as per Kazi Committee Methodology (KCM), which was approved by the National Finance Commission (NFC) in 1988, Federal Cabinet in 1990, and the CCI in 1991, and its validity was further reinforced by the Supreme Court's 1997 judgment in the Gadoon Textile Case and being a constitutional right under Article 161 (2) of the Constitution. The GoKP has proposed a second interim arrangement to settle the outstanding dues by increasing the electricity tariff by Rs.1/ kWh. Additionally, the federal government reiterated its earlier stance of transferring the hydro power stations to the respective provinces. Regarding delay in NHP payments, the GoKP pointed out that Wapda is no longer a revenue collecting agency for the power sector, as CPPA-G is acting as a collecting agency of the federal government; therefore, the payment should be made by CPPA- G, under Power Division. Govt of KP presented following three proposals: (i) payment of NHP by federal government as guaranteed under Article 161 (2) of the Constitution, Presidential Order No 3, decisions of CCI from 1993 to 2022 and subsequent calculations made by Jahanzeb Committee in the report approved by CCI December 23, 2019. Federal government may consider financing of power component of a hydro power station from PSDP on the analogy of Dam component. Proposal ii: so that the revenues generated may be made available for NHP payments to the entitled provinces transfer the existing Hydro Power stations, currently owned by Wapda, to the respective provinces, as was previously proposed by GoPb. The Power Generation Policies of 1995 and 2015 otherwise allow transfer of power stations to the provinces. Federal government may pay the outstanding NHP payments as per KCM to the provinces till the transfer of hydro power stations to the provinces. O&M can be retained by Wapda. Proposal iii: Till the finalization options, the federal government may announce a 2nd interim arrangement of NHP payment by increasing consumer end tariff by Rs. 1/ KWh to generate the requisite funds. Instead of Wapda, CPPA-G may directly pay NHP to the entitled provinces through ESCROW account. By determining wheeling charges based on the rate of power wheeling from Pehru Hydropower Station, PEDO be facilitated to wheel up to 1,500 MW of power, facilitating its sale through electricity wheeling. Water Usage Charges may also be enhanced to Rs. 3/ kWh. Government of Punjab: Government of Punjab mentioned that mandate of the Committee, constituted by CCI in its 41st meeting due to divergent viewpoints on KCM, was later changed through revised minutes by amending the original ToRs; i.e., 'determine an out of box solution/ methodology to determine net hydel profit' to 'propose an out of box solution for the payments of net hydel profit to entitled provinces. Therefore, Punjab maintains that without addressing the methodology issue for NHP calculation under Article 161 (2), NHP payments to the provinces cannot be resolved. As per Article 161 (2) of Constitution, CCI is to determine the revenues from bulk power supply at hydro-electric stations. However, the KCM considers the average basket price, incorporating various energy sources & factors and only accounts for the electricity losses at the point of generation, neglecting additional losses incurred during transmission, distribution, and commercial operations. Therefore, KCM is non-implementable and violative of the Constitution. Power generation mix has shifted significantly over time, with hydel's share decreasing from 60% to 23% and thermal power becoming the dominant source, accounting for 70% of total generation. Besides this, certain factors such as Energy Purchase Price (39% of tariff), Capacity Purchase Price (61% of tariff), Distribution & Supply margins, transmission charges, Market Operation Fee, and Prior Years adjustments, along with various types of taxes, contribute towards the tariff and average unit price of electricity, although these cannot be considered part of the revenue. As per minutes of 41st & 49th CCI meeting, electricity tariff is expected to increase significantly, from Rs.4.50 to Rs.7.50, alongside a rising circular debt projected to reach Rs.7 trillion by 2030. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
