Chinese firm resumes work on Diamer-Basha Dam

GILGIT: A Chinese company involved in the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam resumed work on Wednesday after a brief hiatus following an attack on Chinese engineers working on the Dasu Dam.

The Chinese firm had temporarily halted work after five Chinese nationals were killed in a suicide attack on a Dasu Dam engineers’ bus.

Diamer-Bhasha Dam project General Manager Nazakat Hussain confirmed the development, stating, “Alhamdulillah, the Chinese company has resumed work on the dam.”

Hussain mentioned that approximately 350 Chinese nationals have returned to the site, joining over 6,000 local staff already engaged in the project.

Addressing security measures, Hussain emphasized that comprehensive security measures have been implemented. This includes the deployment of two wings of the Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts and Frontier Constabulary, along with security personnel from the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). “Overall, security measures are satisfactory,” he added.

The Diamer-Bhasha Dam, situated on the River Indus between Kohistan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Diamer district in Gilgit Baltistan, holds significant promise for Pakistan’s energy sector. With a capacity to generate 4,800 MW of electricity through hydro-power, the dam aims to address the nation’s growing energy needs while providing sustainable and affordable electricity to its citizens.