Deployment of troops in Diamer okayed

KARACHI:

The federal government has approved the deployment of 120 contingents of the Pakistan Army in Diamer district by December this year for the security of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project.

The federal cabinet granted the approval through a circular on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The interior department of Gilgit-Baltistan had requested the deployment of troops under Article 245 of the Constitution.

According to sources, threats were received during the acquisition of land for the construction of the dam.

The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts for setting up a G-B Scouts Wing for the security of the project.

It was inked by Wapda General Manager (HRD) Brig (retd) Shoaib Taqi and G-B Scouts Director General Brig Zia-ur-Rehman on behalf of their organisations.

As the dam is being constructed in a remote area, adequate security measures are of immense importance for the smooth and timely completion of the project.

The multi-purpose Diamer-Bhasha Dam is being constructed on Indus River, 40 kilometres downstream of Chilas town. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2028-29.

In May this year, China had rejected India’s objection to the construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, saying that the economic cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad was aimed at promoting development and improving the well-being of the local population.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the dam project was mutually-beneficial and win-win for the “two all-weather friends” and strategic cooperative partners.