LAHORE: The groundbreaking of WAPDA offices and colonies of Diamer Basha dam is expected next month. The Federal government has already released and handed over an initial sum of Rs 700 million to the deputy commissioner of Diamer for acquisition of land in Gilgit-Baltistan.
This was revealed after a meeting between Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister, Syed Mehdi Shah and WAPDA Chairman, Shakil Durrani, following the latter’s visit to the site of Diamer-Basha dam project.
Syed Mehdi Shah, while referring to the water and hydropower potential of Gilgit-Baltistan, said that development of these resources by construction of Diamer Basha and other projects would not only play a pivotal role in strengthening the national economy, but also pave way for socio-economic uplift of the area.
WAPDA Chairman expressed that Diamer Basha dam, the largest project ever executed in the history of Pakistan, would store 8.1 million acre feet (MAF) of water and generate 4500 mega watt (MW) of low-cost electricity on its completion. In addition to providing water for agriculture, the project will also contribute 18 billion units of electricity per annum to the national grid, he added.
