MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday removed Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Syed Raghab Abbas Shah and appointed Zafar Mehmood, former Federal Secretary Water and Power, as Chairman. Presently, Zafar Mehmood is serving as Chairman Public Service Commission Punjab.

The sources said the government was not satisfied with the performance of Chairman Wapda and received a number of complaints on the award of billions of rupees of contracts of hydropower projects in sheer violation of rules.

Last year, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while inaugurating the first hydel Independent Power Producer in Mirpur had announced the removal of Chairman Wapda and held him responsible for the current energy crisis. The Prime Minister was later informed that the appointment of Chairman Wapda was made in accordance with the Wapda Act which implies Chairman cannot be removed until his or her term is expired.

The sources said Syed Raghab Abbas Shah made close contact with Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali and Salman Shahbaz, son of Chief Minister Punjab. On the basis of these contacts, officials in the Ministry of Water and Power were confident that Syed Raghab Abbas would not be removed.

The appointment of new Chairman Wapda Zafar Mehmood is being considered a good move to ensure transparency in projects.

Zafar Mehmood has served as Secretary Cabinet, Secretary Commerce, Secretary Petroleum, Secretary Water and Power and Secretary Industries and Production.

Mehmood was brought in the Ministry of Water and Power by former Minister for Water and Power, Ahmad Mukhtar, however, he was made OSD on the recommendations of Ahmad Mukhtar.

Government claims that Chairman Wapda has resigned. However, insiders claim that Wapda chief was forced to resign. When contacted the outgoing Chairman said: “If the government claims that I have resigned, they will be saying true,” he said laughingly.