ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Water Resources on Wednesday presented in the National Assembly, details of the estimated cost of the Mohmand, Dasu and Bhasha dams on which the tenders were floated and contracts awarded.
Presenting the details in the house on a written reply to a question of Anwar Taj, MNA, during the Question-Hour, the Ministry of Water Resources stated that the original estimated cost of Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project (MDHP) was Rs309,558 million (Rs309 billion) as per approved PC-I, on which the contract was awarded.
According to the reply, the revised estimated cost of MDHP is Rs665,743 million as per first revised PC-I, which is under process of approval by Ministry of Planning and Development. In original approved PC-I of MDHP, Rs160 million was allocated for local community development, whereas in the first revised PC-I, Rs.4,500 million had been allocated. The original estimated cost of Dasu project is Rs486,093.3 million (Rs486.09 billion) as per PC-I by Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on 28.03.2014, on which the contracts were awarded. Revised estimated cost of Dasu project is Rs1,737,881 million as per 2nd revised PC-I approved by Ecnec on 19.12.2025. A provision of Rs7,221.65 million was made in original PC-I for local community comprising local area development programme, livelihood support, public health schemes and social development cost.
As per second revised PC-I, the said provision has increased to Rs57,299.80 million on account of local area development programme -- livelihood support, public health schemes, social development programme and socio-economic uplift schemes for all three districts of Kohistan under Pattan Agreement.
Diamer-Basha Dam project is being implemented under PC-I comprising acquisition of land and compensations including social safeguard and resettlement related infrastructure with second revised PC-I amounting to Rs174.700 billion approved on 30.04.2020. Third revised PC-I amounting to Rs337.04 billion is under approval by Ministry of Water Resources.
The PC-I (Dam Part) comprises two contracts namely MW-1 and HM-1 with original PC-I amounting to Rs 479.686 billion approved on 14.11.2018, while first revision of PC-I is under process. The PC-I (PGF) consists of four contracts: MW-2, HM-2, EM-1 and EM-2 with original PC-I amounting to Rs1424.36 billion approved on 06.04.2023. At present, construction activities are under way only under PC-I (Dam Part). Contract MW-1 (main dam and appurtenant structures) commenced on 07.08.2020. The MW-1 contract was awarded at a price equivalent to Rs442.40 billion (based on an exchange rate of 1 USD = 160.75 PKR) against PC-I provision of equivalent Rs336.50 billion, which was approved in 2018 (based on a 2016 price index and an exchange rate of 1 USD = 105.3 PKR).
The approved cost of the PC-I of Diamer-Basha Dam Project: (Dam Part) stands at Rs479.686 billion and is currently under revision in line with the guidelines of Ministry of Water Resources.
