Dasu Hydropower Project picks up pace, generate power in 2024

on 21/03/2020

Following the resolution of land rates issues, reports suggest that construction work on Dasu Hydropower Project has started gaining momentum. The issue was resolved with active support from the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments.
The project is expected to generate power from the second half of 2024. Six units of the Stage-I, with a cumulative generation capacity of 2160 MW will be completed by early 2025, said WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (r) who visited the project site.
WAPDA chairman reviewed construction activities at the main access tunnel leading to the powerhouse, two diversion tunnels, project offices and colony.
The project management briefed the chairman of the progress on main civil and preparatory works in the project area. He was also informed that the KP government and the district administration have assured completing the process of land acquisition by June this year.
WAPDA Chairman, appreciating the spirit of the locals, said that their cooperation was vital to expedite the land acquisition process. WAPDA is cognizant of its responsibilities for the betterment of the project affectees and has been taking all possible measures for the progress and prosperity of the residents, he further said.
The 4320-MW Dasu will stabilize the economy of Pakistan by generating low-cost hydel electricity besides ushering in a new era of socio-economic development in the backward and far-flung areas of the province.
Dasu Hydropower Project is being constructed on River Indus upstream of Dasu town. WAPDA is implementing the project in two stages – each stage having a generation capacity of 2160 MW.
On completion, Stage-I of the project will contribute more than 12 billion units of electricity per annum to the national grid. Stage-II, after its completion, will also provide another 9 billion units to the system every year.
Besides the main civil works of Stage-I, the construction work on seven different contracts relating to infrastructure development is also underway.
These include the construction of the right bank access roads, relocation of Karakoram Highway, construction of 132 KV transmission line and grid station to provide electricity from Duber Khwar Hydel Power Station to the site for implementing the project and adjacent areas, project colony and resettlement works

Time for IEEEP to rise!

on 21/03/2020

Now that the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Pakistan (IEEEP) is bracing for electing new councils, the performance of outgoing leadership which is open for scrutiny now depicts an unimpressive picture.
The institution besides the center has two notable chapters such as Karachi and Lahore and both, as the perception goes have nothing impressive to speak about but a handful of activities round the year and that also has largely become intertwined with personal rather than institutional interests.
Two years ago Engr. Irfan Ahmed, heading IEEEP Karachi chapter had expressed his resolve to expand the role of the institution in the changing environment. After assuming the office, he looked determined to extend help to young engineers in the country.
Ahmed believed the institution should play its proactive advisory role so that the governments should be able to address deepening issues relating to engineering in the country. “We are contemplating to change the aims and objectives of the institution to adopt a new role. At present, dissemination of knowledge and encouraging professionalism fall in the ambit of the institution as per its existing

Engr. Al Kazim Mansoor elected president PEF

on 21/03/2020

Members of Pakistan Engineers Forum (PEF) have elected Engr Al Kazim Mansoor as President PEF for the session 2020-21. Engr. Mansoor is Chief Executive and founder of Soilmat Engineers since Dec. 1992. Soilmat is among the leading Geotechnical Firm in Pakistan and has to its credit geotechnical investigations of mega projects like Kohat Tunnel, Gwader Port, Terminals at Port Qasim, 78 storied Proposed KPT towers, Rehabilitation of Bridges at Worlds highest Karakoram Highway, Indus Highway, Karachi – Hyderabad Motorway M-9, Power Plants, Wind and Solar Energy stations, Dams, Highways, Tunnels, Multi storied Projects, Refineries, Industrial Complexes etc.etc

EDB authorized to lead in EV policy making

on 21/03/2020

Engineering Development Board (EDB) has been authorized to lead the policy formulation task for electric vehicles in the country.
The board working under the Ministry of Industries will play a key role. Also, it has been directed to submit draft proposals in February.
While Electric Vehicles (EVs) policy is on focus in Pakistan, multiple departments were seen elbowing each other for formulating the policy and such attitude had irked the country’s auto sector. The contenders for seeking the job included the Ministry of Science and Technology and the environment agencies.
In such a situation, Abdul Razak Dawood, the Adviser to the prime minister on Industries and Production decided to make EDB the focal department saying EV Policy was the domain of MoIP as per the rules of business.
In a moot in January, he directed the board to submit the first draft within one month. The policy would an inclusive initiative.
EDB Chairman Raza Abbas was quoted in a report asking the auto industry to respect the timeline for submission of proposals to the board so the first draft could be finalized before the end of February.
The investment in the EVs would be under the Auto Development Policy (ADP 2016-21), which would include investment plans, standardization of equipment, promotion of localization, exports of parts and components in the long run, employment generation and positive impact on the national economy.

NESPAK acquires 87 projects in one year worth Rs11.14 billion

on 21/03/2020

NESPAK, a public sector engineering services, and consultancy organization has made record progress during 2018/19 by acquiring 87 new projects worth Rs11.14 billion showing an increase of 11% more than the last year’s (Rs. 10.07 billion), according to a statement issued by Dr. Tahir Masood, Managing Director NESPAK.
Out of these 87 projects, 76 jobs were domestic and 11 in the foreign countries, i.e., Gabon, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Qatar, Sultanate of Oman and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The major projects acquired by NESPAK during the last fiscal included; 800MW Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project, Balochistan Water Resources Development Sector Project, Solar Water Pumping in Balochistan, Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, Phase-I, K-IV Water Project, Karachi, Kartarpur Corridor Project, Narowal, Wastewater Treatment Plants for Mehmood Booti, Shadbagh, Shahdara and Babu Sabu, Lahore, 300km Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway on Public-Private Partnership mode, Development of CPEC City, Nowshera, Establishment of Infrastructure in LDA City (Phase-I), Lahore, Port Connectivity Project, Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Flood Management Plan, Booue and Tsengue-Leledi Hydroelectric Projects, Gabon, Kano River and Hadejia Valley, Irrigation Schemes, Dams Safety and Rivers Training in Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin, Nigeria, and Road between Thumrait Interchange and Mubaila Interchange, Muscat Expressway, Oman.
NESPAK was envisioned by its founders as an organization free from foreign dependence and capable of delivering the highest quality in the field of engineering consultancy. It was envisaged as an institution that had to lead the consultancy market of Pakistan and compete abroad with excellence. Time has proved that NESPAK has succeeded in fulfilling its objectives to a large extent owing to the unprecedented struggle offered by its professional brigade who left no stone unturned to achieve their stated aims. The professionals of NESPAK have been putting up a good show to boost the Company’s performance in these testing times when the country’s economic indicators are not painting a bright picture