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Naveed Asghar Appointed Acting WAPDA Chairman After Sajjad Ghani Resigns
Naveed Asghar Chaudhry named acting WAPDA chief after Lt Gen (R) Sajjad Ghani’s resignation. He’ll serve for 3 months or until permanent appointment. Ghani oversaw major dam projects.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-21
Naveed Asghar Appointed Acting WAPDA Chairman After Sajjad Ghani Resigns

Naveed Asghar Chaudhry has been appointed as the acting chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), following the resignation of retired Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani on Saturday, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Water Resources.

Asghar, who currently serves as WAPDA’s Member (Finance), will hold the acting chairman post for a period of three months or until a permanent appointment is made, the notification stated.

This is the second time Asghar has stepped into the role. He earlier served as interim chairman in 2022 after the resignation of Lt Gen (R) Muzammil Hussain, before handing over the position to Ghani after three months.

Sajjad Ghani’s Three-Year Tenure Ends

Lt Gen (R) Sajjad Ghani, who held the position for nearly three years, oversaw major national water and hydropower projects. During his tenure, he frequently visited critical sites such as the Mohmand Dam, Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, and the Dasu Hydropower Project.

In May, Ghani strongly condemned Indian attacks that damaged parts of the Neelum-Jhelum dam, stating that such actions violated international laws and the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit targeting water infrastructure even during wartime.

Ghani also played a key mediating role by convincing tribal leaders to end a sit-in related to land compensation issues in the Dasu Project area. However, the project remained under scrutiny due to financial irregularities and mismanagement, as highlighted by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in April.

Challenges Awaiting New Chairman

Naveed Asghar now inherits a portfolio riddled with delays, funding shortages, and public dissatisfaction. The K-IV water supply scheme for Karachi, launched in 2011, saw renewed focus under Ghani’s leadership. Despite some progress, the federal government allocated only Rs3.2 billion out of a required Rs40 billion in the current budget, casting doubt on the project’s timely completion.

Experts now fear Karachi may have to wait another decade or more to see the long-promised solution to its water crisis materialize.

Asghar’s leadership in the interim period will be critical to keeping momentum on existing projects, restoring public trust, and preparing ground for a permanent head at WAPDA.

 
Tagged:

WAPDA

WaterCrisis

Hydropower

NaveedAsghar

SajjadGhani
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