{
  "id": 5211854,
  "title": "WAPDA Security Force Bill: NA body again defers approval after lawmakers’ objections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/wapda-security-force-bill-na-body-again-defers-approval-after",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T00:39:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40437711/wapda-security-force-bill-na-body-again-defers-approval-after-lawmakers-objections"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Tuesday, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources in Islamabad once again postponed its approval of the WAPDA Security Force Bill, 2026, due to concerns raised by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers, especially regarding the proposed arrest powers within a one-kilometer radius of WAPDA projects. The committee, led by Ahmad Atteeq Anwar, took the bill up for discussion, but PPP Members of National Assembly (MNAs) Javed Ali Shah Jilani, Saba Talpur, and Zulfiqar Ali Behan opposed approval, stating the party needed more clarification on certain provisions. Jilani emphasized that the PPP had reservations against granting arrest powers to WAPDA personnel. WAPDA Chairman, former Lt Gen Muhammad Saeed, presented the proposed legislation to the committee, explaining the rationale behind limited arrest powers for the WAPDA Security Force (WSF). He noted that over 100 attacks had been reported on WAPDA projects, and the WSF would primarily focus on trespassing and security incidents within WAPDA installations. Saeed added that maintaining a dedicated WSF would be more cost-effective than deploying troops from other security forces, including the Army. The PPP members expressed a positive inclination towards the bill but required their party leadership to be briefed before finalizing their stance. They suggested that the Federal Minister for Water Resources should convey their concerns to the PPP leadership through the proper channel. The committee also discussed the delayed K-IV water supply project, which has been under construction for nearly two decades. A four-member subcommittee was formed to examine the reasons behind the delay, outstanding issues, and the future course of action to complete the project by December 2026. The project requires 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and while Rs10 billion has been allocated under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), MNA Muhammad Jawed Hanif Khan urged for at least Rs40 billion to be allocated. Karachi residents have been forced to spend large sums on water tankers, and the internal work of water supply is expected to be completed by 2031 with financing from the World Bank. MNA Syed Amin-ul-Haq expressed serious concern over the prolonged delay, noting that the K-IV project had remained unfinished since 2014. The committee chairman suggested that a separate investigation might be necessary to determine the reasons for repeated delays. The committee also addressed the augmentation and water transmission components of K-IV, with MNA Syed Waseem Hussain proposing a subcommittee to examine these issues. He emphasized that water provision to Karachi was a national matter, not just a provincial concern. The Karachi Water and Sanitation Agency (KWSA) informed the committee that Karachi's water demands were rapidly increasing, making timely completion and future expansion of K-IV crucial. Regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner Mehar Ali Shah informed the committee that the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) had issued an award on August 31, 2026, rejecting India's claim to place the treaty in \"abeyance.\" Shah emphasized that the PCA upheld the treaty's applicability and rejected India's unilateral stance, stating that any changes to the treaty would require strict legal criteria.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources on Tuesday again deferred approval of the WAPDA Security Force Bill, 2026 following reservations expressed by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers, particularly over proposed powers of arrest within a one-kilometer radius of WAPDA projects. The committee, chaired by Ahmad Atteeq Anwar, took up the bill for consideration,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}