ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said that construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam would not only cater for energy requirements of the country, but would also be a source of development for Gilgit Baltistan (GB).
He said this while reviewing progress on Diamer-Bhasha Dam project in the PM’s House. The dam would prove to be an economic milestone for Pakistan, he added.
Nawaz directed that 1 percent of the project cost should be allocated specifically for environmental conservation so that local vegetation and wildlife resources were not affected, adding that first preference for unskilled jobs should be given to locals of the project area. He said that security of foreign consultants working on the project should be ensured and security costs be adjusted in the project cost.
The PM was apprised that a separate unit of Gilgit Baltistan Scouts is being raised specifically for security of the project and a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Interior Ministry in this regard. The meeting was informed that 100 km of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) would be affected after construction of the dam and an alternate route stretching 142 km will be built.
Nawaz said that he would monitor the project’s progress and would visit the site soon.
