ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal on Friday chaired a evaluate meeting at the development of the Diamer Basha Dam challenge. The assembly changed into attended through the Secretary of Planning, Chairman WAPDA, and senior officials of different relevant departments, consistent with a press release. During the assembly, Ahsan Iqbal said that the Diamer Basha Dam is a vital assignment for Pakistan’s water and food security and ought to be completed expeditiously within the country wide hobby. He said that in 2018, the anticipated production fee of the Diamer Basha Dam become Rs. 479 billion, and Rs. 120 billion had already been spent on land acquisition. However, due to delays and useless postponements in the course of the previous government, the price of the venture has multiplied significantly. He said that in 2020, production become hastily began with out right financing, which similarly compounded the issues. The Planning Minister stated that during the tenure of the preceding authorities, the fee of the venture became estimated at Rs600 billion and even Rs750 billion in numerous meetings of the standing committees, even as on paper, an estimate of Rs480 billion become being shown till date. Ahsan Iqbal maintained that the responsibility for the increase in the venture cost lies with the preceding incompetent authorities, and because of lack of funding and delays, the cost has now expanded from Rs. 479 billion to Rs1400 billion. Expressing remorse, Ahsan Iqbal said that even these days, a entire financing plan for the mission isn’t available. He recommended that the dam and energy projects be separated and the financing of the power task be acquired from non-public area. He similarly stated that even after six years, the revised PC-1 of the venture has no longer been organized. I had proposed in a status committee assembly for the duration of the preceding tenure that paintings on a project whose PC-1 is more than years vintage must now not be started out. On this event, he also stated that in the future, projects might be finished below the Public-Private Partnership to keep away from delays in investment and of entirety. The Diamer Basha Dam will offer storage of 6.Four million acre-toes of water, which is important for the country’s agriculture and enterprise. During the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal emphasised that engineering and hydrology students from Pakistani universities ought to be involved in the production of the dam which will benefit from this countrywide assignment. Furthermore, the Federal Minister directed all relevant departments to prioritize the completion of the Diamer Basha Dam assignment and avoid similarly delays to ensure Pakistan’s water and food safety.
