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Diamer-Bhasha dam pact signed

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Rs 442 billion contract, a joint venture of China Power and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) for the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam, was signed May 13.

The Chinese state-run firm holds 70 percent and the FWO, 30 percent share in the consortium. The contract covers construction of a diversion system, main dam, access-bridge and the 21MW Tangir hydropower project.  

The Diamer-Bhasha dam project’s Chief Executive Officer, Amir Bashir Chaudhry, and the authorized representative of the China Power Yang Jiandu signed the agreement on behalf of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and the joint venture, respectively. 

The Water Resources Minister, Faisal Vawda, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, Water Resources Secretary Mohammad Ashraf, WAPDA Chairman, Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain, Pakistan Army engineer-in-chief, Lt Gen Moazzam Ejaz, and FWO Director General, Maj Gen Kamal Azfar, attended the signing ceremony.

The WAPDA chairman expressed the hope that the Diamer-Bhasha dam would be completed as per the timelines to cope with the increasing water and electricity requirements of the country. 

“The dam project with a total financial outlay of about Rs 1,406.5 billion would be completed in 2028,” he revealed. 

He briefed that the project would have a gross storage capacity of 8.1 MAF and power generation capacity of 4,500MW, with an annual generation of 18.1 billion units. 

However, the electro-mechanical and power generation project would be taken up separately at a later stage. The total financial outlay includes land acquisition and resettlement, confidence building measures for social uplift of the local people, construction of dam and power houses. 

Prime Minister Imran Khan was briefed on the progress of the project a couple of days ago. The construction work on dam will begin in coming few weeks.
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