China ready to include Diamer-Bhasha Project in CPEC

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reform was informed on Monday that China has offered Pakistan to include the Diamer-Bhasha dam project in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Muzammil Hussain, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman, said that governments of Pakistan and China were seriously mulling over including the Diamer-Bhasha project in CPEC as no mega hydel project was included in economic corridor, according to APP.

The completion of project went in abeyance earlier in 2006 when the Asian Development Bank committed to funding the project refused to provide funds after 10 years, saying the project was situated in a dispute territory.

Hussain said PC-1 of the project holding 4,500MW installed capacity had already been completed and 85% land acquisition had also been made by the government.

The Wapda chairman told the committee that the project needed $14.49 billion for the completion that hindered due to issues in fund allocation.

He informed that other hydel power projects including Neelum-Jhelum and Tarbela extension would be completed by May 2018, which would provide an additional 2,500MW of electricity.

Work on the 800MW Mohmand Dam and power project would be initiated by March 2018 whereas Munda Dam project would also be started by the first quarter of next year. However, there was no funding problem for either of the two projects, he added.

The committee was apprised that work on the Dasu project would start by next month and it would be completed by 2022. This project will help produce 2,500MW.

The committee told the Ministry of Water and Power to submit its fund release policy in the next meeting.