By Abid Ali Khan
Tarbela 5th Extension Project: 1,530 MW of Affordable Hydropower to Join National Grid by 2026 – Mian Mohsin Wattoo
Federal Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Mohsin Wattoo has said that the Government of Pakistan is committed to adding affordable and environment-friendly hydropower to the national grid as part of its top priorities. This initiative aims to provide relief to the public and strengthen the national economy.
The Federal Minister expressed these views on Wednesday during his visit to the 1,530-megawatt Tarbela 5th Extension Project currently under construction at Tarbela Dam.
Accompanying him during the visit were WAPDA Chairman Naveed Asghar Chaudhry, Member (Power), Member (Water), General Manager Tarbela Dam Project, General Manager (Power), Project Director of the 5th Extension, along with consultants and project managers of the contractors.
During the inspection, the Minister reviewed key construction sites, including the power intake, penstock, powerhouse, and connecting tunnel. He was given a comprehensive briefing on the project’s current progress, defined targets, and timeline for completion.
Officials informed the Minister that construction work at all seven project sites is proceeding satisfactorily and remains on track for commissioning in 2026. Expressing satisfaction over the pace of construction, Mian Mohsin Wattoo directed the concerned authorities to ensure the project’s completion within the stipulated timeframe so that its national benefits can be realized in a timely manner.
It is worth noting that the Tarbela 5th Extension Project is being developed on Tunnel No. 5 of the Tarbela Dam. The project is backed by $690 million in international funding—$390 million from the World Bank and $300 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Once operational, the project is expected to contribute an average of 1.347 billion low-cost hydropower units annually to the national grid. This will significantly alleviate the ongoing energy crisis while boosting the industrial and agricultural sectors.
Upon completion, the total installed capacity of the Tarbela Hydropower Complex will increase from 4,888 MW to 6,418 MW.
According to the Ministry of Water Resources, the Tarbela 5th Extension is a priority project among WAPDA’s under-construction mega hydropower ventures, and the ministry is extending full cooperation to ensure its timely execution.
