PM Nawaz signs off on Diamer-Bhasha dam financing plan

E-Paper | March 16, 2026

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday approved, in principle, the financing plan for the Diamer-Bhasha dam and ordered the secretary of water and power to start physical work on the dam before the end of 2017.

Secretary Ministry of Water and Power Mohammad Younus Dagha presented the dam's financial proposal to the prime minister today, Radio-Pakistan reported.

The prime minister instructed Younus Dagha and the secretary of planning and finance to expedite the completion of the financial process and begin the physical process before the end of next year.

This financial plan, made on a self-reliance basis, proposes that construction of the dam will receive a portion of the required funding from allocations made by the Public Sector Development Programme and from resources generated by Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

The rest of the financing for the dam will be arranged on a commercial basis by the Ministry of Water and Power either through Wapda or through leasing its existing projects.

The construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam has been considerably delayed. The project was originally scheduled for completion in 2016, and then 2019, when a decision about its construction was taken by the military government of Gen Pervez Musharraf, but work on the project did not progress at all during his rule.

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Jamshed

Dec 05, 2016 12:46pm

During the Musharraf's time the major work of constructing a very difficult road about more than 200-250 Km to the site is done .. with out which the construction can never start.. the machinery manpower and all the construction material cannot reach the site wit out it. When the construction was about to start, he was removed by incompetent civilians

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Dec 05, 2016 12:49pm

First tell about neelum Jhelum

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Dec 05, 2016 12:53pm

Also look into kalabagh dam again..

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Deal With it

Dec 05, 2016 01:45pm

No one financing this dam means it would never be completed!

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Skeptic

Dec 05, 2016 02:06pm

More money to be made by his cronies before the next elections. Most of the construction material and manpower procurement will be awarded to Sharif associates. Hence the kickoff of this project before the end of 2017.

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Jaan-Bhittani

Dec 05, 2016 02:06pm

Good step,,work should start immediately.

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bala

Dec 05, 2016 02:07pm

Is this the same dam where World Bank and ADB had rejected to finance..

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Murtaza

Dec 05, 2016 02:17pm

@Fz Neelum Jehlum will be operational by first quarter of 2018.

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Port kasim

Dec 05, 2016 02:23pm

Even our All weather friend refused to finance it, Just Drama

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Murtaza

Dec 05, 2016 02:32pm

@bala Yes, because it is based in Gilgit Baltistan (GB). GB is disputed area between India and Pak.

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Ali (CA)

Dec 05, 2016 03:13pm

@Jamshed - an incompetent civilian government is better than a competent dictator. Strong nations elect leaders and do not allow a leader to be imposed on them. Change your mind set to be called a strong and prosperous nation.

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zaheer

Dec 05, 2016 03:27pm

@Ali (CA) HAVING a leader like corrupt better then not having 1 at all. Our country is better then without a leader then having looters

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M. Asghar

Dec 05, 2016 03:28pm

Nothing will happen by 2017 or after this date, because this declaration is a pure poltical gimmick to pass time.

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Khawar Saleem Aslam

Dec 05, 2016 03:28pm

It is good step. We need to find a way to finance starting of projects which are national importance. Once you show seriousness it is likely others will join, be that in part.

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try

Dec 05, 2016 03:46pm

@Ali (CA) - "an incompetent civilian government is better than a competent dictator" Whatever our civilian government is doing these days is akin to dictatorship hence I call them"incompetent"... So saying incompetence overrides competence seems incorrect in our case at least... I think the ruler must be judged by his character, leadership qualities , vision and his respect for laws of the land. No one lives forever so I prefer a man of character to be my ruler.

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Syed

Dec 05, 2016 03:47pm

@zaheer you can remove an incompetent elected leader in the next elections, but never a dictator

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Abu HUMZA

Dec 05, 2016 03:52pm

@Jamshed Very well said , you nailed it

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Ersnst hamignway

Dec 05, 2016 04:05pm

I have never seen a nation complaining so much on their development work as is Pakistani. We are simply negative people. We can never be happy. I believe Zardari was a perfect leader for all the negative commentators below. Good job Nawaz Shareef...inshallah a day will come when these projects will be running and then these haters will be using their electricity.....that's the best revenge

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Amanullah Khan

Dec 05, 2016 04:10pm

Being an incumbent of GB and a development planner by profession I strongly suggest to PMLN Government for taking the following decisions on priority basis: i) Declare GB including Chitral as the fifth constitutional province of Pakistan; ii) Include Diamer and Bounji Dams on the list of CPEC and offer for International Consortiums/ Companies for construction on BOT/Partnership basis. Both the Dams are vital to meet the emerging crisis of water crises and meeting the increasing demand for energy of the country. Both projects will collectively generate about 11600 MG clean and cost efficient energy and lessen the burden of high cost energy produced by the IPPs. GB and Chitral are not disputed territories but have been made disputed by the selfish leaders of Kashmir and Pakistan because of their nearsightedness. It is mature time to take the decision. Further delay in taking the decision will hurt the overall interest of the country.

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Jamshed

Dec 05, 2016 04:32pm

@Ali (CA) What a logic an incompetent civilian govt like of Zardari's and Nawaz is better for the country???? I am stunned.. We are at a stage where two successive civilian government came and we are at the verge of economic collapse.. We touched unprecedented highest number of loans and among the top corrupt nations... with zero development work..

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Adi

Dec 05, 2016 04:47pm

We have lost the ability of appreciating good work. Its a positive step so lets admit it. Its a dam which no agency wants to sponsor so instead of leaving it rot like zardari govt did, atleast present govt is making some efforts to revive it deapite the fact that fiscal space is limited for them..we need more of such steps despite that social and tv media will try to find and sell whatever negativity they could find....we like to be in a state of self pity..

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Jamil

Dec 05, 2016 04:48pm

@Ali (CA) We need a civilian government which comes to power on the strength of the real mandate of the people of Pakistan and not through manipulating and rigging the elections as the present government of Nawaz Sharif has done. It is not only incompetent but is engaged in the worst form of corruption, kickbacks and have amassed huge ill-gotten wealth both in the country and abroad and shying away from accountability. This is not how democracy functions. Our political system needs a complete overhaul before Pakistan could realise its full potential.

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Chris colombo

Dec 05, 2016 04:50pm

@Ersnst hamignway "We are simply negative people" Or probably we thought no one can be worse than a man in uniform and we were proved brutally wrong during zardari rule and now this government is facing sharp criticism. But I am positive it will be gone in few years.

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Pakistani

Dec 05, 2016 05:03pm

ITS 15 BILLION DOLLAR DAM PROJECT MEANS 10% OF TOTAL PAKISTAN ECONOMY .WORLD BANK REFUSED TO FINANCE AND CHINA AND USA NOT GONNA HELP . SO NAWAZ JUST MAKING ITS CITIZEN FOOL NOTHING ELSE CAUSE HE DOESNT HAVE MONEY TO COMPLETE IT NOW .

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Khan

Dec 05, 2016 05:10pm

@Jamshaid Musharraf ruled for a decade. If he was so competent, why he did not start any other Dam? And in 10 years he could only make a road to diamer. It was he, not the so-called incompetent civilians, who is responsible for electricity shortfall

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Jamil

Dec 05, 2016 05:11pm

@Syed Not if the elections are rigged.

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Jadoon

Dec 05, 2016 05:12pm

@Amanullah Khan Well said

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Jadoon

Dec 05, 2016 05:17pm

@Jamshed Seems you are from military. Calling civilians "incompetent" won't remove our history. May be you don't know the competence of Yahya, Zia and beloved Musharraf. Musharraf is responsible for everything we are facing in Karachi, Balochistan and even loadshedding. And Ayub khan's rule is the major reason for 1971 creation of Bangladesh; reading history will help

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Saim

Dec 05, 2016 05:19pm

@Ali (CA) appreciated

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Shahid

Dec 05, 2016 05:25pm

When they had come in almonst four years ago, that should have been the time for this 'approval' so that people could see what they had achieved in four years. Now this amounts to what a Panjabi proverb calls: 'goongloovan ton mittee jhaarna', meaning doing something just for show of being seriously busy. These multicolored roads, trains, and other multitudes of failed power projects could have waited. But what to say other than frailty thy name is politics. Now they can claim see we started B-D dam as a compaign slogan. People should get ready for more sacrifices; debts and taxes. What a PR and priority. Governance is really a very serious thing. It cannot be a hobby b/c it has to deal with lives of real people, all people.

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M.Saeed

Dec 05, 2016 05:28pm

Need of the hour is Kalabagh Dam which is the only key to survival of agriculture in Sindh and Baluchistan.

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M.Saeed

Dec 05, 2016 05:39pm

@Skeptic: The last dam built in Pakistan is Tarbela Dam which was completed in 1976 while India has built over 400 dams in this period. Our internal water war between provinces is the reason.

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Ali (CA)

Dec 05, 2016 05:46pm

@try - a man of character never impose himself on people and thus still elected is a choice of the majority. I am not a PMLN supporter and do know that monocracy is being practiced but was voted in. One can ask for another democratically elected leader rather praising dictator

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Ahmed

Dec 05, 2016 05:53pm

@Jamshed Change your thinking, dictatorships are always harmful. And dictatorships are not corruption free. What you think best for the country is not important. What the people of every province think, not just Punjab, is important. The Baloch hate Musharraf, Balochistan High Court has issued his arrest warrants. People every year celebrate his birthday, and stadiums are named after him. By praising him and dictatorships you are unconsciously harming the State. The ANP, BNP, PPP, Pakhtoonkhwa Mili Awami Party, are all political realities and they are anti-quo. They may be corrupt but they have mandate. The only way to move forward is to look towards the Supreme Court and High Courts to eradicate corruption with continuous pressure from both electronic and social media.

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Amin

Dec 05, 2016 06:04pm

Go look the ground reality all around Pakistan under this present government developments going on and IA we looking forward for better future of Pakistan. We all need to pray continuity of this govt as well next five more years we truly love Pakistan.

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Dec 05, 2016 06:06pm

@Jadoon I would also like to know your views on the civilian rule . Why Bhutto insisted for share in government saying 'Udhar tum, idhar hum'? Awami League won the majority (maybe lets say a Trump-like situation) and democracy demanded to accept it.

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Dec 05, 2016 06:15pm

New projects to do more corruption. The current projects which went on ridiculously expense because the contractor NS and his relatives own build the project, more kickbacks more corruption. Just trying making count of project to grab votes in next election.

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pakistani

Dec 05, 2016 06:22pm

please Mr. PM put all things in lease....and once in life please place your own home in lease....u will realise that these all assets u people alwsys leasing are public property.... thanks

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jadoon

Dec 05, 2016 06:27pm

@JO https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/167331-East-Pakistan-would-be-given-independence-Pak-president-told-US-in-November-1971 This link answers your question about Bhuttos statement "idhr hum, udhr tum". Bhutto cashed in on the opportunity, which was provided by military rule of Ayub and Yahya.

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Dec 05, 2016 06:34pm

@Ahmed "They may be corrupt but they have mandate" Corruption and dictatorship are equally harmful. A corrupt will come in power with a promise and get vote but he will never fulfil it. He would rob us of our money, damage our institutions and God knows what else he can do to make sure to remain in power .

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Dec 05, 2016 06:37pm

@jadoon "Bhutto cashed in on the opportunity, " Now that was not very nice on his part, isn't it?

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Umar Farooq

Dec 05, 2016 06:41pm

Well Done PM, carry on......

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Dec 05, 2016 06:43pm

@jadoon ..if people are united within no external power can break us, unfortunately we were divided.

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Manzoor Hussain

Dec 05, 2016 07:43pm

The only last remaining hope now for Pakistan is for Imran Khan to be given chance. His party has made breathtaking tangible positive changes in the province currently under his party.... corruption eliminated, infrastructure improved, health , transparency , cleanliness etc. I met many residents from this region, they say, they cannot imagine giving their votes to anyone except Imran Khan . We have seen all other corrupt , incompetent & dynastic seeking utterly useless leaders in Pakistan like Zardari & Nawaz, it's time for a real change , let's all work hard to make Imran Khan PM urgently ...... nothing to loose & potentially do much to gain :)

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try

Dec 05, 2016 08:14pm

@Ali (CA) "monocracy is being practiced " Yes our elected officials have turned dictators , and worse they are incompetent too. Now these people won't let us have fair elections which is really worrying. We need a patriotic person and I don't care how he comes to the rescue.

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Akila

Dec 05, 2016 10:49pm

Copycat PM , AS IK announce package in swat........

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Sameer

Dec 06, 2016 10:20am

@Ali (CA) Easier said then done. Easy to say things when you dont see life falling apart around you.

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Sameer

Dec 06, 2016 10:33am

@Ersnst hamignway thats the beauty of democracy...we complain and you will have to listen. If you dont do that, you go to jail. If you loot,become selfish, fool the masses, you go to jail. If you cant serve; dont nominate yourselves or your children. Audit the useless projects like the laptop scheme , bolan cars and metro buses and you will see we needed to empower city level officials, remove bribery and nepotism. End the yes Sir culture, end feudalism, invest in education and healthcare. All that is needed is in taters...and all that is useless gets subsidized. I feel sorry for thr ones that will defend the atrocity that is committed to others...soon these problems will fall on every one and there will not be any one to complain.

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Sami Shahid

Dec 06, 2016 04:39pm

wow....I hope it will become a reality...this dam is very important for KPK and entire Pakistan

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