Govt pushes for on-time completion of Diamer-Bhasha Dam

May 22, 2025 (MLN): To prioritize the timely completion of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, officials have been directed to accelerate work and strictly adhere to the project timeline by the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal.

He issued these directions while chairing a meeting to review PSDP budget proposals against the Indicative Budget Ceiling of Rs1,000 billion allocated to federal ministries and divisions for FY 2025–26 by the Finance Ministry.

During the meeting, the Minister stressed the importance of effective prioritization in budget allocation in light of the reduction in PSDP budget size for the next year.

He directed ministries to focus on the most critical projects and those in advanced stages of completion, as per the press release.

The Minister emphasized the need to align with the Finance Division's indication of Rs1,000bn for the upcoming PSDP, in contrast to ministries’ demands of Rs3,000bn and the Planning Ministry’s request for a minimum of Rs1,600bn.

He urged full utilization of current year funds for faster project completion and stated that new projects should be prioritized based on their relevance to the national development agenda, URAAN Pakistan.

"With a shrinking development budget, it is now more important to prioritize effectively and save every penny released by the Planning Ministry from being misused," he said.

Highlighting the current challenges faced by the public, the Minister pointed to the ongoing water shortage as a critical issue requiring urgent attention.

He underscored the importance of completing the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project within the stipulated timeframe to meet the country’s water security needs.

Calling it a vital project for Pakistan's economic growth, water management, and energy security, he said the dam would significantly enhance the nation’s water reservoir capacity, help mitigate flood risks, and ensure a consistent water supply for irrigation and domestic use.

Directing officials from the Water Resources Division to prioritize the early completion of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, the Minister said its construction would play a transformative role in Pakistan’s long-term development and sustainability by generating 4,500 megawatts of electricity.

Furthermore, the Minister directed officials from all ministries to prepare a list of important and critical projects that are at risk due to the reduction in the development budget.

The meeting was attended by secretaries and senior officers of federal ministries and divisions.

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