ISLAMABAD: In the wake of a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan a couple of days ago about water security and construction of mega-dams including Diamer Basha Dam Project, all efforts are underway by the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to ensure timely mobilization of the contractor and effective follow up on Diamer Basha Dam Project.

For the purpose, an agreement worth Rs. 442 Billion with a Joint Venture namely Power China-FWO was signed today for construction of diversion system, main dam, access bridge and 21 MW-Tangir Hydropower Project.

Diamer Basha Dam Chief Executive Officer Amir Bashir Chaudhry and authorized representative Yang Jiandu, signed the agreement on behalf of WAPDA and the Joint Venture respectively.

Water Resources Federal Minister Muhammad Faisal Vawda, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, Water Resources Federal Secretary Muhammad Ashraf, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd), Pakistan Army Engineer-in-Chief Lt Gen Moazzam Ejaz and FWO DG Maj Gen Kamal Azfar were also present on the occasion.

Diamer Basha Dam Project, with a total financial outlay of about Rs. 1406.5 billion will be completed in 2028. The total financial outlay includes land acquisition and resettlement, confidence-building measures for social uplift of the locals, construction of dam and powerhouses.

The Project has a gross storage capacity of 8.1 million acre-feet (MAF) and power generation capacity of 4500 megawatts (MW), with an annual generation of 18.1 billion units per annum, he added.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, Pakistan Army Engineer-in-Chief Lt Gen Moazzam Ejaz and Power China Chairman Yan Zhi Yong also expressed their views during the ceremony

It is pertinent to mention that WAPDA has already awarded contract for consultancy services of Diamer Basha Dam to Diamer Basha Consultants Group (DBCG) worth Rs. 27.182 billion. The consultancy agreement includes construction design, construction supervision and contract administration of Diamer Basha Dam Project.

The Joint Venture DBCG comprises top-ranked national and foreign consulting firms namely

NESPAK (Pakistan)
Associate Consulting Engineers(Pakistan)
Mott MacDonald Pakistan (Pakistan)
Poyry (Switzerland)
Montgomery Watson and Harza (MWH) International – Stantec (USA)
Dolsar Engineering (Turkey)
Mott McDonald International (England)
China Water Resources Beifang Investigation,
Design and Research Company (China)
Mirza Associates Engineering Services (Pakistan)
Al-Kasib Group of Engineering Services (Pakistan)
Development Management Consultant (Pakistan)
MWH Pakistan (Pakistan) with NESPAK as the lead firm.
These firms have vast experience of providing consultancy services for mega water projects the world over