Islamabad May 13th, 2020: 

WAPDA has signed Contract Agreement for construction of Diamer Basha Dam Project on 13^th May 2020, with Power China-FWO Joint Venture (JV). The worth of the agreement is Rs. 442 billion. The agreement includes construction of diversion system, main dam, access bridge and 21 MW-Tangir Hydropower Project.

 Chief Executive Officer, Diamer Basha Dam Company, Mr. Amir Bashir Chaudhry and Mr. Yang Jiandu, representative of the JV signed the agreement on behalf of WAPDA and the JV respectively. Mr. Muhammad Faisal Vawda, Federal Minister for Water Resources, Mr. Yao Jing, Ambassador of China in Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Ashraf, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Lt Gen (Retd) Muzammil Hussain, Chairman WAPDA, Lt Gen Moazzam Ejaz, Engineer-in-Chief, Pakistan Army and Maj Gen Kamal Azfar, DG FWO were also present on the occasion.

Addressing to the ceremony, Federal Minister for Water Resources congratulated WAPDA and Power China-FWO JV, saying that today’s event is a good omen for construction of much-needed dams in Pakistan. He said that construction of Diamer Basha Dam will commence in a few weeks. He added that Diamer Basha Dam is a phenomenal project to ensure water, food and energy security in Pakistan. Dilating upon the developments of water sector by the incumbent Federal Government, the Minister said that after Mohmand Dam, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in May last year, Diamer Basha Dam is the second mega multi-purpose dam that is to be started in a span of just one year which is unprecedented in Pakistan’s history.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman WAPDA stated that the project will go a long way for economic development and social uplift of the country. He reiterated that WAPDA is committed to complete this mega project in accordance with the stipulated timelines to cope with the increasing water and electricity requirement in the country. 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, resettlement, confidence building measures for social uplift of the locals, construction of dam and power houses. The Project has a storage capacity of 6.4 million acre feet (MAF) and power generation capacity of 4500 megawatt (MW), with annual generation of 18.1 billion units of electricity per annum.

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

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

The JV DBCG comprises of 12 top-ranked national and international  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) and MWH Pakistan (Pakistan) with NESPAK as the lead firm. These firms have a vast experience of providing consultancy services for mega water projects the world over.