WAPDA awards consultancy contract for Hydraulic Model Research Institute in Sheikhupura

Sheikhupura: The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has awarded a consultancy contract worth Rs116.908 million to Associated Consulting Engineers Limited (ACE) for the procurement of unified master planning, engineering design, construction supervision, and contract administration services for the establishment of the WAPDA Hydraulic Model Research and Training Institute at Chichoki Malian, Sheikhupura. The contract has a duration of two and a half years.

The formal contract signing ceremony took place today at WAPDA House, where Dr. Khawar Munir, General Manager (Hydro Planning) at WAPDA, and Ghulam Arif Khan, Regional Head North at ACE, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. WAPDA Member Water, Jawaid Akhtar Latif, General Manager (C&M) Water Muhammad Azam Joya, and other senior WAPDA officials were also present at the event.

The scope of the project includes the establishment of various cutting-edge facilities. These will include a physical hydraulic models construction facility for research and testing, a geo-tech modeling facility, a hydropower model testing facility, as well as laboratories for geo-tech, hydraulics, sedimentation, hydropower, and computer studies. In addition, the project will also cover the establishment of a water resources and hydropower training institute, alongside a modern workshop facility, library, record room, office buildings, hostels, rest houses, and a staff colony.

WAPDA’s initiative aims to create a state-of-the-art facility for hydraulic model studies, including comprehensive and sectional models of different components of dams, canals, and barrages, meeting international standards. The new institute will not only serve WAPDA’s own needs but will also be available for model studies for other departments. The long-term plan for the institute’s expansion is to make Pakistan self-sufficient in conducting both physical and numerical modeling of requisite structures.

This project is set to play a key role in strengthening Pakistan’s capacity in hydraulic engineering, offering a valuable resource for research, training, and development in the water and power sector.