World Bank delegation visits Tarbela Dam, reviews hydropower projects

A high-level delegation of the World Bank Executive Directors visited Tarbela Dam and inspected the Tarbela Fourth Expansion Project, as well as the ongoing construction of the Tarbela Fifth Expansion Project. The delegation was accompanied by WAPDA Chairman Engineer Lt. Gen. (Retd) Sajjad Ghani.

During the visit, officials briefed the delegation on the critical role Tarbela Dam has played in Pakistan’s economic and social development since its completion in 1974. The dam has provided 411 million acre-feet of water for agriculture and generated 597.309 billion units of affordable electricity for the national grid. The overall economic benefits of the project are estimated at $411 billion.

The Tarbela Fourth Expansion Project, a flagship initiative of the World Bank, has supplied 275.31 million units of electricity to the national grid. Meanwhile, the Tarbela Fifth Expansion Project, currently under construction with $390 million in funding from the World Bank, is expected to begin power generation in 2026.

The World Bank and WAPDA have been development partners for over six decades, and WAPDA Chairman Sajjad Ghani expressed optimism about continued collaboration in the development of Pakistan’s water resources.

The delegation also received a briefing on the Dasu Hydropower Project, another major initiative receiving $1.588 billion in financial assistance from the World Bank. The Dasu project is also expected to start producing electricity by 2026.

The World Bank delegation praised WAPDA’s role in the successful execution of hydropower projects, highlighting their significance in boosting Pakistan’s energy capacity and economic growth.