WAPDA Chairman Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Muhammad Saeed has supported the creation of a dedicated WAPDA Security Force, saying the authority needs specialized protection for its critical infrastructure and development projects.

Speaking before the National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources, chaired by MNA Ahmad Atteeq Anwer, the chairman said WAPDA projects face growing security challenges and reliance on external law enforcement support is not always sufficient.

He said hiring private security services has also become increasingly costly, making a dedicated force a more effective and sustainable solution for safeguarding WAPDA installations.

The proposed WAPDA Security Force would have authority only within the premises and jurisdiction of WAPDA projects, according to the chairman.

He explained that although the existing WAPDA Act allows the authority to maintain watchmen, the current security arrangements do not meet the requirements of protecting large-scale infrastructure projects.

The chairman further informed the committee that recruitment for the proposed force would be carried out from across all provinces to ensure wider representation.