Energy woes: US pledges support for Diamer-Bhasha dam
The United States on Wednesday pledged support for Pakistan’s massive $14 billion 4,500MW Diamer-Bhasha dam project as top officials and business leaders explored investment prospects, amid exponential energy needs of America’s ‘critical partner’ nation.
Both the US officials – including US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr Rajiv Shah and US Special Representative Dan Feldman – and Pakistan’s Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who is also defence minister, highlighted tremendous opportunities for American and international investors in the ‘transformational’ power generation and water storage project.
The officials spoke at a joint platform that brought together senior leaders and experts and business leaders at the US Chamber of Commerce at a meeting, co-hosted by the USAID and the US-Pakistan Business Council. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani and US Ambassador in Islamabad Richard Olson participated in the daylong conference, spread over several sessions.
Pakistan needs 10,000MW of power to meet its rapidly growing domestic, industrial and agrarian requirements. The materialisation of Diamer-Bhasha dam will be a giant step in that quest.
Besides producing 4,500MW of power, the dam will help with four million acre of water for irrigation, save millions from flash flooding, boost other hydro projects and contribute vitally to extending life of Tarbela Dam by 30 years.
The Obama administration officials assured the investors of effective results, citing results from US-financed energy up-gradating projects in Pakistan.
“We know that success can take hold,” Dr Shah said in reference to completion of small projects and addition to power generation capacity of large dams.
Daniel Feldman said the US and Pakistan have a wide-ranging strategic partnership and that Washington is in for a long-term economic and investment relationship with Pakistan, particularly in the energy field. “Investment in Diamer-Bhasha dam is the smartest choice for Pakistan,” Feldman remarked, reiterating the White House and Secretary John Kerry’s commitment to back economic and energy security of Pakistan.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government is committed to encouraging foreign investment in various sectors of the economy and is crystal clear that the country needs both the Dasu and Bhasha dams. “We have demonstrated our commitment – and acquired land from own indigenous resources,” he added.
He apprised the meeting of government’s robust economic agenda, saying Islamabad has stemmed the economic downslide it inherited and now exports, GDP rate, remittances, revenue collection and industrial growth, have all registered marked growth.
“Despite demonstrations in Islamabad, the rupee has been fairly staying at stable exchange rate, while inflation has also been checked,” he added. Senator Dar said the government has paid off circular debt it had inherited from the previous administration.
Khawaja Asif said Washington’s support for the vital Diamer-Bhasha dam would cement the relationship between the two countries.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2014.
COMMENTS (23)
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The article is short on the details. How much has the WB or other investors actually pledged, rather than some wishy washy statement of 'support'? Where is the money going to come from? When will work start? Is there any condition that India has to give a NOC?
I think this is just another PR exercise with little substance.
The more you are going to depend upon US' aid in the completion of Pakistani projects the more you are going to become US' beggar and slave and the more you are going to act upon your master US' commandments and US never wants to see Pakistan a really and truly economically self-reliant,sovereign and prosperous country and interestingly succeeding in its this the most worst ever and ugliest mission to make Pakistan a slave and beggar country and using Pakistan for its interests and benefits in South East Asia or South Asia and shamefully Pakistani leaders are making Pakistan a US' slave and beggar country for their own luxurious and kingly lives....
@ashi: You don't need bashers from any other country when you have losers within your ranks. The losers are blindly following a cricketer suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Syndrome, destroying Pakistan to satisfy his ego.
Really ???
@Blithe: I do not think you read news or I think you read but only remember those which are according to your political desire. 3-4 days back their was news in Express tribune that the Federal Government did not approve the hydel project which the KPK government wanted to execute. this is the destructive nature which has turned Pakistan into a beggar. The PML-N government want to execute projects like Nandipur which provide them commissions. Second thing is the KPK government does not have the type of resources needed to execute the projects to provide electricity for whole of Pakistan. They can execute the projects needed for KPK only (If the Federal allows it). But if the People in Punjab wants to get low cost electricity they will have to invest in KPK as is done in India where state like Maharashtra invest in upper provinces to make dams for them. Keep on making projects like nandipur and you will destry your economy.
@Mirza
Seriously dude?. Typical Pakistani mentality, I must say.
How many countries did pakistan help in boosting their economies or how many projects did pakistan contribute in?.
Why do you guys always expect other to help you while you yourself are least interested in. You guys can sit on dharnas, take out processions, invest in your so called strategic assets, waste your resources but no, not invest into your future.
You accuse others of not seeing the plight of Pakistani people, tell me, did any of your countrymen see the plight and if they saw, what is your next step, work on improving your situation or as usual blame others for it?.
Stop being a cry baby and work for your own self.
Those are mere lip services from US,India will never allow that to happen.
It is a good project, Pakistan needs such mega-project. But it does not mean all is good with PMLn and all is bad with opposition. PMLn cpmpletely failed to resolve ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan. Sharif Khandan must understand political norms, should respect opposition, and introduce democratic culture in PMLn. This bureaucratic styled government will not be able to run smoothly.
@Waseem: I agree with you on the potential in KPK due to the topography - there is huge run if the river potential .
After the 18th amendment KPK govt is equally responsible to generate electricity but PTI is a destructive party - it's not in their DNA to do anything constructive
this was need of the time and any govt would have done sth in this area. Even bureacrates push such projects bcz.....
@Blithe: @RealTruth: Do not worry after india (The Best friend of our Prime Minister) will raise objections on it all the investment will move out of the project as it happened with the World bank and Asian Development Bank. Second thing is it will take 10 years to complete this project which means when the project will come online our demand for electricity will be more than double to what it is now. So cool off we have seen what the federal government has done with the hydel project which the KPK government was looking to develop. this project will have the same fate. Unless our provinces stop fighting with each other and start co-operating, nothing is going to happen. We all know KPK has the sites for cheap hydel generation while Punjab has the funds. Why does the Punjab government not invest in the cheap electricity producing hydel projects in KPK. they will not because it is like their are four countries in this federation who all are moving in their own directions. They will instead waste their money on projects like NANDIPUR.
This is a very positive step by the US and one we should acknowledge and appreciate. The US and Pakistan have been long term allies. We both need to work together to address the mistrust that has developed and focus our energies on building a mutually beneficial long term partnership.
The question is who will invest 14 billion dollars in a fake developing country and on what terms???? Of course only "Support" is not enough to make a dam!!!
I have not been through from comments but I am 10000% sure there will be many indians bashing Pakistan and showing their hatred toward Us. so skipping and writing comment here :)
This is a good project that can do great service to Pakistan and its people without opening a Pandora's Box of disputed projects like Kala Bagh Dam. Let us do what is practical and get the job done.
I thought our Muslim brothers like Saudi, and UAE would help us with the energy crisis. Or our all weather friend China would save us from total darkness. Why it is always much maligned and hated America we bank upon? We have been struggling for almost a decade but all our friends are enjoying their monetary gains and not seeing the plight of Pakistani people.
We are in critical postion related to energy crisis.We need the projects like Dasu and Bhasha dams to overcome the energy need.We need to concentrate positively for the welfare of the country.This is the time we should set-aside all difference and gather on one page to make our country out of this turmoil.We have to be cooperative and need Continuity in this type of project.Because projects take atleast five-to- ten years for its completion. We have to develop the policy so that the next incoming Government should continue the project with the same pace.
Bahsha dam would have been completed if partition of subcontinent would not have been do done partition was the biggest mistake we Indians pakistan is are suffering today garvindreddy hyd deccan
And in return for this empty promise Pakistan should cancel Russian deal?
Nawaz / Shahbaz Sharif and PMLN Ministers are shouting that the economy has suffered tremendously due to Dharnas but their Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is saying exactly opposite.They all are deceiving and befooling whom?.
Great News! Go Nawaz Go to new heights of success! Let Dharna losers continue their mourning, you focus on Pakistan; SUCCESS is the best revenge! Pakistan Zindabad!
Good show ! If we solve the energy issue , our gdp will grow by at least 2 percent.
Constructive approach as opposed the destructive miscreants on the containers