KARACHI: Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda told Arab News on Friday that the construction of Pakistan’s long awaited Diamer-Bhasha dam would begin in the next six weeks.
The project was announced by the country’s military ruler General (retired) Pervez Musharraf’s administration 14 years ago. However, its construction contract worth Rs.442 billion was signed by the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government with China Power and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) on Wednesday.
“The construction of the dam will be done within eight years,” said Vawda, “and the project will address the issue of water and power shortage in the country. It will also strengthen Pakistan’s irrigation system and give a major boost to the agriculture sector.”
“Diamer-Bhasha dam, along with other power projects, will materialize in record time,” he continued while applauding the painstaking efforts of his team, especially the chairman of Water and Power Development Authority and secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources.
Discussing the benefits of hydropower projects like the Diamer-Bhasha, Mohmand and Dasu dams, the minister said they would collectively produce 32 billon units of electricity every year which was equivalent to WAPDA’s overall power generation capacity since 1958.
“With the completion of the Diamer-Bhasha dam, affordable electricity will be available to the national grid which will also help us increase our exports and achieve other economic goals,” he noted.
Besides generating more power, he said that the project would address the issue of water shortage in the country.
“The construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam will augment water supply to the existing canal irrigated land which is presently facing a water shortage due to the depleting water storages in Mangla and Tarbela dams,” he added.
Vawda noted that the project would have a capacity of 4,500 megawatts and create 15,500 new jobs. He added that water scarcity and management were important issues and constituted a high priority for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.
“The federal government is developing water sector projects all across the country and has allocated Rs 70 billion in the current financial year for that purpose,” he said.
“Our government is also expediting the implementation of Dasu Hydropower Project which will result in [2,160 megawatts of electricity] and 8,000 jobs,” the minister informed while adding that the Mohmand dam would irrigate 160,000 acres of existing 16,000 acres of new land besides generating 250 million gallons of water for Peshawar on a daily basis. “It will also protect Nowshera and Swat valleys from floods and create 6,000 jobs.”
Construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam will begin in six weeks — minister
https://arab.news/bhh2u
Construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam will begin in six weeks — minister
- The reservoir will help address water shortage in the country and generate 18 billion units of electricity per annum
- Pakistan on Wednesday signed a contract with a Chinese firm for the construction of the dam
Pakistan, ADB sign $730 loan agreements to boost SOE reforms, energy infrastructure
- Both sign $330 million Power Transmission Strengthening Project and $400 million SOE Transformation Program loan agreements
- Economic Affairs Division official says Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening national grid’s backbone
KARACHI: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday signed two loan agreements totaling $730 million to boost reforms in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and energy infrastructure in the country, the bank said.
The first of the two agreements pertains to the SOE Transformation Program worth $400 million while the second loan, worth $330 million, is for a Power Transmission Strengthening Project, the lender said.
The agreements were signed by ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan and Pakistan’s Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Humair Karim.
“The agreements demonstrate ADB’s enduring commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Pakistan,” the ADB said.
Pakistan’s SOEs have incurred losses worth billions of dollars over the years due to financial mismanagement and corruption. These entities, including the country’s national airline Pakistan International Airlines, which was sold to a private group this week, have relied on subsequent government bailouts over the years to operate.
The ADB approved the $400 million loan for SOE reforms on Dec. 12. It said the program seeks to improve governance and optimize the performance of Pakistan’s commercial SOEs.
Karim highlighted that the Power Transmission Strengthening Project will enable reliable evacuation of 2,300 MW from Pakistan’s upcoming hydropower projects, relieve overloading of existing transmission lines and enhance resilience under contingency conditions, the Press Information Department (PID) said.
“The Secretary emphasized that both initiatives are transformative in nature as the Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening the backbone of the national grid whereas the SOE Program will enhance transparency, efficiency and sustainability of state-owned enterprises nationwide,” the PID said.
The ADB has supported reforms by Pakistan to strengthen its public finance and social protection systems. It has also undertaken programs in the country to help with post-flood reconstruction, improve food security and social and human capital.
To date, ADB says it has committed 764 public sector loans, grants and technical assistance totaling $43.4 billion to Pakistan.
