PM orders inquiry into damage caused to Mohmand Dam

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the authorities concerned to carry out an investigation into the damage caused to the basic infrastructure of Mohmand Dam due to floods and ordered timely completion of the project.

The premier issued the direction during his visit to the construction site of the dam in Nowshera.

Speaking on the occasion, the PM said that Mohmand Dam was being built jointly by the Chinese and Pakistani companies.

“This (Mohmand Dam) is an extremely important project. It will produce 800 megawatts of electricity. [This project will make] water available for irrigation and help in saving [the region] from floods,” he said.

“Damage caused to the basic infrastructure of the dam and tunnels is a matter of great concern and an investigation should be carried out to determine as to why it happened,” he added.

Highlighting the importance of dams, the premier noted that security arrangements were put in place wherever reservoirs were built in the world.

Talking about a major technical fault that occurred a few months ago at the Neelum-Jhelum power station, PM Shehbaz said that he had ordered impartial inquiry into the mishap.

Also read: PM Shehbaz visits flood-hit K-P areas, Mohmand Dam

He said investigation would be carried out by independent consultants so that no such occurrence takes place in future.

He said Pakistan spent billions of dollars every year to import fuel and provided cheap electricity to consumers by generating expensive one, which burdened the national exchequer.

“We will have to increase our reliance on hydroelectricity, solar energy and wind power because our future depends on it. The cheapest source of power generation is hydel electricity. Our economy cannot afford expensive power generation,” he said.

The premier called for timely completion of Mohmand Dam project, noting that both Chinese and Pakistani companies were working on it tirelessly.

Earlier, Wapda Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Sajjad Ghani and representatives of the Chinese construction company briefed PM Shehbaz about the progress on Mohmand Dam and the damage caused to it by the floods.

Mohmand Dam is being constructed on Swat River in Mohmand district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2026.