ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Economic Affairs has rejected reports that the 4,500-megawatt power component of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project has been cancelled, calling the reports false and misleading.
The ministry said the hydropower component of the project remains intact and the government is committed to completing the dam with its full capacity for both water storage and hydropower generation.
Diamer-Bhasha Dam is a national priority project aimed at increasing Pakistan’s water storage capacity while also generating electricity, the ministry said.
It said the government had taken no decision to cancel the 4,500-megawatt power generation component. The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and relevant ministries are continuing to work on the hydropower component and its future planning, it added.
The ministry also rejected claims circulating on social media based on an alleged “leaked document” that the government had decided to scrap the power generation component of the dam.
According to the ministry, the claims are false and misleading, and the public should rely on information issued through official sources rather than unverified reports.
The clarification also followed reports by a US-based website concerning the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. The ministry said no authentic copy of the alleged leaked document, cancellation order or formal government decision was presented to substantiate the claim that the power component had been scrapped.
The government said the 4,500-megawatt hydropower component remains part of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project and no decision has been taken to withdraw from it or permanently eliminate its power generation facilities.
The ministry also rejected suggestions linking the dam’s power component to the independent power producer (IPP) lobby, describing such claims as unfounded and sensational.
It said the government remains committed to the project as part of efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s water and energy security. The dam is intended to increase water reserves and contribute to meeting the country’s future energy needs through hydropower generation.
The ministry said planning for the hydropower component was continuing, with WAPDA and other relevant ministries working on the project.
It urged the public not to rely on unverified social media reports, alleged leaked documents or sensational claims regarding the national project, and to follow official sources for updates.
The ministry reiterated that the 4,500-megawatt power component of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam has not been cancelled and planning for the hydropower facilities is continuing.
