New Wapda Force to Shield Chinese-Backed Projects

Islamabad is preparing legislation that would create an autonomous security unit inside the Water and Power Development Authority. The unit, named the Wapda Security Force, would be responsible for protecting hydropower plants, transmission lines, and worker colonies that have become frequent targets of militant groups. The move comes after two devastating attacks on the Dasu hydropower project, part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which together killed multiple Chinese and Pakistani staff. The draft law, titled the Wapda Security Force Act 2026, has already been tabled. It authorizes the force to operate in notified zones, detain intruders, and carry weapons without prior police permission. Crucially, it shields every member, from the director general down, from civil or criminal liability for actions performed while on duty. Labor laws that normally apply to industrial workers will not cover force personnel. Security analysts note that earlier protection arrangements relied on army divisions for outer perimeters and local police for inner rings. Those layers proved inadequate when militants struck inside project sites. The new force is designed to close that gap by giving Wapda its own trained contingent that can respond instantly and coordinate with intelligence agencies. Prime Minister Sharif personally reviewed the proposal after Chinese officials threatened to freeze funding unless security improved. Supporters argue the measure will reassure Beijing and unlock stalled funds. Detractors fear it concentrates too much power in an agency already accused of heavy-handed tactics. Parliament is expected to debate the bill within weeks, and the government hopes to have the force operational by the end of the year.