Pakistan has missed out participation in the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD).
Media reports have claimed that a delegation was invited to France for participation but due to non-availability of permission from PM office, no one could travel. However, former chairman WAPDA Lt. General (R) Muzammil Hussain joined the conference in a personal capacity.
The reports have claimed that Pakistan National Committee on Large Dams made special arrangements but it remained in vain as the seats for Pakistani delegations remained vacant throughout this week-long conference because of the absence of approval from the prime minister.
A week-long important conference was held in Marseille, France from May 27 to June 3, 2022, with a participation of over 1400 experts from across the globe including 87 experts from India.
Media has reported that not a single official from Ministry of Water Resources and its attached departments has attended owing to alleged ignorance of the federal government.
According to reports, Lt. General (R) Muzammil Hussain participated in a personal capacity on a special invite in recognition of his work on 10 mega water projects in the country. Recommendations of ICLOD most often play key role in ensuring the foreign financing for the construction of large dams’ projects across the globe.
ICOLD is dedicated to sharing of professional information, knowledge and standards of the design, construction, maintenance, and impact of large dams. With a present total of 104 member countries, ICOLD leads the profession in setting standards and guidelines to ensure that dams are built and operated safely, efficiently, economically, and are environmentally sustainable.
Lt. General (R) Muzammil Hussain, invited to give the keynote address at the closing of conference was granted this honor in recognition of his significant contribution towards the development of large dams in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, former chairman of WAPDA apprised the ICOLD Congress on water and hydropower sector development in Pakistan through mega projects by WAPDA.
He said that WAPDA is implementing a multi-pronged strategy for unprecedented hydropower and water storage development in Pakistan under the vision of ‘Decade of Dams’.
