Mohmand, Dasu dams costs surge by Rs1.6tr

ISLAMABAD:

The construction cost of the Mohmand Dam and Dasu Hydropower Project has increased by a combined Rs1.607 trillion, pushing the total estimated cost of the two mega hydropower projects from around Rs800 billion to nearly Rs2.4 trillion.

According to documents presented by the Ministry of Water Resources in the National Assembly, the estimated construction cost of the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project has risen from Rs309.558 billion to Rs665.743 billion, reflecting an increase of Rs356.18 billion.

According to the ministry, the original estimated cost of the project had been approved under the PC-I when the contract was awarded. However, the revised PC-I, carrying the updated estimate of Rs665.743 billion, is currently under consideration for approval by the Ministry of Planning.

The ministry revealed that the estimated cost of the Dasu Hydropower Project has jumped from Rs486.093 billion, approved under the 2014 PC-I, to Rs1.737 trillion—an increase of Rs1.251 trillion.

It added that the second revised PC-I of the Dasu project was approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) in December 2025.

The documents also showed a major increase in allocations for the development of local communities affected by the projects.

Under the Mohmand Dam project, Rs160 million had originally been allocated for the uplift of the local population. Under the revised PC-I, the amount has been increased to Rs4.5 billion.

Similarly, for the Dasu Dam project, the allocation for local community development has been enhanced from Rs7 billion to Rs57 billion in the revised PC-I, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.