A New Chapter for Wapda Chairman: Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Saeed Takes the Helm
In a significant breakthrough likely to transform Pakistan’s power and water management scene, the federal government has formally approved the appointment of Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Saeed as the Chairman of Wapda (Water and Power Development Authority). The move is being made at a time when Pakistan is facing electricity deficits, outdated hydropower infrastructure, and the urgent requirement of saving water and planning water development projects.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in an elevated-level meeting held in Islamabad, congratulated the newly elected chairman and offered him his complete support. The message of the premier was clear: he has total faith in Saeed’s leadership and hopes that Wapda will not only perform but excel during his tenure.
Also present at the meeting was Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who echoed similar sentiments about the importance of reinvigorating the authority with a renewed strategic vision.
A Decorated Military Leader Steps into Civil Service
Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Saeed comes with an unprecedented record of discipline, leadership, and crisis management. He has an illustrious military career spanning as Director General Rangers Sindh, Commander Karachi Corps, and Chief of General Staff in the General Headquarters. Saeed is renowned for his composed decisiveness in times of urgency and left active military service in November 2023 only to be summoned once again this time in the civilian sector.
His exposure to handling intricate logistics, high-pressure situations, and country-level operations will be tasked with spearheading Wapda’s ambitious multi-billion rupee infrastructure projects especially dams, power plants, and irrigation schemes.
Challenges Ahead: Can Military Precision Cure Wapda’s Ills?
The appointment follows increasing public unease about energy shortages, hindered dam build-ups, and inconsistent water supply throughout provinces. Wapda has frequently been under attack for bureaucracy, sluggish work, and absence of innovation.
Appointing someone like Lt Gen (r) Saeed is a calculated move by the government designed to bring military-like efficiency, transparency, and speed of execution to the function of authority. Sources indicate that it is just the shot in the arm Wapda so badly needs to get public trust back.
Some of Saeed’s first assignments are likely to be:
- Speeding up Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams
- Addressing circular debt in the power industry
- Consolidation of inter-provincial coordination for the distribution of water
- Renewal of obsolete administrative and technical procedures
A Symbol of Civil-Military Harmony
The move also indicates increasing practice in using experienced military veterans in civil leadership positions, particularly where accountability and performance are critical. Lt Gen (r) Saeed’s shift from uniform to utility services is symbolic of civil-military cooperation for the development of the nation, not hegemony.
In recent history, Wapda has had both technocrats and bureaucrats in charge but perhaps what it needs today is a pragmatic commander who will strike a balance between strategy and execution, and vision and action.
A Hopeful Start Under New Leadership
With Pakistan struggling increasingly on both its water and power fronts, Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Saeed is a fresh breeze and a new injection of purpose. Supported by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and with great expectations riding on him, his appointment heralds a potential revival for Wapda as a progressive and responsive institution.
Only time will tell if this military veteran can perform in a civilian setting but for the moment, his appointment has brought optimism across the board. The country watches with bated breath as this new chapter unfolds.
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