World Bank appreciates work on Tarbela dam’s extension project

ISLAMABAD: World Bank President David R Malpass along with Federal Minister Water Resources Faisal Vawda visited Tarbela Dam project on Thursday. 

Federal Secretary Water Resources Muhammad Ashraf, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) and World Bank senior officials accompanied him during the visit.

The president also visited the main dam and the power house of Tarbela fourth extension hydropower project.

Speaking on the occasion, World Bank President expressed his pleasure over completion of Tarbela fourth extension hydropower project within time and less than estimated cost, adding that the work on the project is impressive.

He appreciated the efforts of Ministry of Water Resources for resolving the issues in relation to completion of Dassu hydro power project, construction of dams and other related projects.

The World Bank’s team especially recognised the untiring efforts of Faisal Vawda for effectively coping with the challenges related to water issues in Pakistan.

Earlier, the federal minister thanked the World Bank for the cooperation it has been providing to Pakistan for harnessing water and hydropower resources since 1960. He hoped that this cooperation will further enhance for implementation of various projects.

Vawda said the government is taking comprehensive and effective measures for improvement of water resources and construction of dams in Pakistan.

Pakistan will witness more progress in hydropower and water sectors with cooperation of Water Bank in future, he added.

He said 523 billion units of electricity have been contributed by Tarbela hydel power station to the national grid.

WAPDA Chairman commended that the World Bank helped broker Indus Water Treaty between Pakistan and India but also administered the entire financial arrangements to complete Indus Basin Replacement Works. 

This included two mega dams namely Mangla and Tarbela, five barrages and nine inter-river link canals to divert water from the western to the eastern rivers.

He also appreciated the World Bank for financial support for Tarbela fourth extension hydropower project, Dasu hydropower project and upcoming Tarbela fifth extension hydropower project.

WAPDA is looking forward to World Bank’s support for other projects, located on Indus cascade. These projects have the great potential to store water and generate phenomenal hydel electricity, he further said.

Briefing the World Bank President about the benefits of Tarbela Dam project, the chairman said that as many as 378 MAF water has been released from Tarbela reservoir to meet irrigation needs of the country.

In addition, Tarbela fourth extension hydropower project, commissioned last year, has also generated 5.6 billion units – more than the generation envisaged in PC-I of the project.