'False and misleading': Govt denies cancelling 4,500MW power component of Diamer-Bhasha Dam
- Diamer-Bhasha Dam generation component is a “committed project in both existing and future IGCEP documents”, says Power Division
The Ministry of Economic Affairs on Saturday ‘strongly’ rejected reports claiming that Pakistan has cancelled the 4,500 MW power-generation component of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam.
“These reports are false and misleading,” the ministry said, adding that the Diamer-Bhasha remains a national priority project with both water storage and hydropower generation.
“The government has not cancelled the power facilities, and planning continues with WAPDA and relevant ministries.
“The public is advised to rely on official government updates. The government is fully committed to completing Diamer-Bhasha Dam, including its hydropower facilities, to strengthen Pakistan’s water and energy security,” it added.
The rebuttal comes after Brief, citing a leaked internal document from the Economic Affairs Division, reported that the government has cancelled the power-generation component of Diamer-Bhasha Dam.
Similarly, the Power Division, in a post on social media platform X, also rejected the report, saying that the Diamer-Bhasha Dam generation component is a “committed project in both existing and future IGCEP documents”.
“Furthermore, for absolute clarity, the new IPPs business has permanently closed in Pakistan after the establishment of a free electricity market by the present government. Any attempt to link IPPs with this project and sensationalise it is based on nothing but fake assumptions,” PD said on Saturday.
“We must verify facts before posting such content,” it added.
The Diamer Bhasha Dam is a mega multi-purpose hydropower project under construction on the Indus River, approximately 40 km downstream of Chilas town, between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. It is designed to be the world’s highest Roller-Compacted-Concrete (RCC) dam, standing 272 meters tall.
The project was initially scheduled for completion in 2029. In December 2023, the scheduled completion year was stated as 2028. In February 2026, the completion of the dam was scheduled for 2030.