Construction work at Diamer Bhasha Dam a historic milestone: Asim Bajwa

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of China-Pakistan Economic (CPEC) Authority Lt. General (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa on Wednesday said that start of construction work at Diamer Bhasha Dam is a historic milestone.

On a social media website Twitter, he said that the construction of Diamer Bhasha would not only build a reservoir to store 6.4 million acre-feet of water, but it will also add 1.2 million acres for agriculture and will produce 4,500 MW of ‘cheaper, greener’ hydroelectricity.

Bajwa added that the construction would also boost sectors including steel, cement, and construction sectors creating over 16,000 jobs as well.

Mobilisation for Diamer Bhasha:Historic milestone as PM kicks off mega construction work at Diamer Bhasha Dam today.6.4 MAF Water reservoir,will add 1.2 M acres for agriculture,4500 MW cheaper,greener Hydel power, steel/cement/construction boost,16000 jobs.#pakistanmakingprogress pic.twitter.com/4moytVC2tp

— Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimSBajwa) July 15, 2020

Diamer Bhasha dam, which is a mega project of national importance, was all set for physical implementation after issuance of Letter of Acceptance (LoA) to the contractors for award of main contract amounting to Rs442 billion by Wapda on May 4, 2020.

The contract of consultancy services of the project amounting to Rs 27.182 billion had also been awarded on May 11, 2020, and a total amount of Rs 39.088 billion was required in the current financial year to pay for the mobilization advance to the contractor as well as the consultants.

Though Chinese company is part of a joint venture in the Diamer Bhasha Dam Project, China had refused to fund the project on the plea that since Asian Development Bank and World Bank are reluctant to be part of the project is disputed territory, it cannot also fund the project.

The incumbent Chairman, Wapda, Lt General Muzammal Hussain( retired) also criticized ADB for not being part of the project and delaying it by giving different justifications.