PM Wants Completion Of Diamer-Bhasha Dam By 2026 Instead Of 2029

Islamabad/Diamer – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed Wapda to complete under construction Diamer-Bhasha dam by 2026-27 and said that we can achieve it if we advance in unison. Speaking after a briefing on the construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam in Diamer on Sunday, the prime minister said that the 4500MW project was of immense importance for the country’s economy, and stressed that it should be completed ahead of its construction timeline of year 2029.

Shehbaz said that the completion of Diamer-Bhasha dam would serve as a future lifeline for the country’s economy, augmenting the power generation, besides boosting agriculture activities. The prime minister said that it was a gigantic task and assured all-out support from the federal government to complete the project as early as possible.

He also announced the construction of the 13km Babusar top tunnel to ensure year’s round traffic flow and asked the authorities to submit a study report to his office at the earliest. The prime minister said that what happened during the last four years was unfortunate. He said early construction of the dam would be a good omen and a milestone in the country’s history.

He regretted that out of 125-130Million Acre-Feet (MAF) water, they were only saving and utilising 25-30MAF water annually.

The prime minister said the area lacked health facilities. He as chief minister of Punjab had donated a scanning machine for Gilgit.

He directed the authorities concerned to submit a report within a week for the construction of fully equipped hospital   to provide the latest health facilities to   population of the area.

Earlier Wapda Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Muzzamil Hussain briefed the prime minister about ongoing project.

The prime minister was accompanied by members of the National Assembly Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khawaja Asif and PML -N spokesperson MNA Marriyum Aurangzeb.

The Wapda chairman, in his briefing to the prime minister, apprised that three mega hydel projects Diamer-Bhasha, Mohmand and Dasu dams worth Rs2.6 trillion were being completed.

Later, the prime minister also took an aerial view of Karakoram Highway, 3MW Thuk power project and Chilas Cadet College.