Radio News Network Radio News Network
Amid a leadership crisis and lack of clarity on timeline and spending, the $4.07 million World Bank-funded reform struggles to take off
Islamabad — A dense fog of secrecy surrounds the World Bank’s $4.07 million Institutional Assessment & Reforms Consultancy (IARC), a project launched in December 2024 to revamp Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). Billed as a much-needed effort to modernize WAPDA’s governance and align it with global standards, IARC is being led by an international consortium comprising Ginger Sofreco (France), GME (Uruguay), and Warm Waters Advisory (Pakistan).
Despite the fanfare, the World Bank has yet to disclose the project’s budget breakdown, implementation timeline, or reform benchmarks. The lack of public information has left stakeholders guessing, raising doubts over the viability of reforms meant to address WAPDA’s systemic inefficiencies.
The crisis deepened in June 2025 with the abrupt resignation of Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Sajjad Ghani. Since then, WAPDA has been led by acting chairman Naveed Asghar Chaudhry—its only remaining board member. Key positions, including Member (Water) and Member (Power), have remained unfilled for nine months, paralyzing decision-making.
This administrative paralysis has spilled into reform implementation, mirroring past failures. The Dasu Hydropower Project’s cost has risen from $4.86 billion to $6.2 billion due to security delays and rupee depreciation, while the Kachhi Canal project, initially estimated at $70 million, swelled to $212.1 million by 2013 and remains riddled with mismanagement.
Public anger has spilled onto streets in Lahore and across social media platforms, where “systemic rot” trends amid growing distrust. Procurement violations flagged by the World Bank and fears of insolvency add to donor anxiety. Meanwhile, India’s 2025 suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty amplifies the pressure. As questions mount, IARC’s opacity threatens both Pakistan’s energy future and its credibility with development partners.
