MANSEHRA: The Water and Power Development Authority has decided to involve the Chinese ambassador to convince the Gezhouba Group Company for the resumption of work on the Dasu hydropower project.

The execution of the 4,320 megawatts project in Upper Kohistan district came to a halt after a bus explosion left 13people, including nine Chinese workers, dead in Dasu area on July 14.

A member of the Wapda team holding talks with the Chinese company told Dawn on Wednesday that ambassador of China Nong Rong would attend the next week’s meeting.

“We are optimistic that work on Dasu dam will recommence on Aug 14,” he said.

Official says Chinese envoy will be engaged for purpose

The official said the federal government had addressed the Chinese company’s concern about the workers’ safety by deploying the Pakistan Army’s two platoons in Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas districts for the Chinese nationals working on Dasu project and Diamer-Bhasha dam.

“Security personnel will be deployed on the Karakoram Highway as well,” he said.

The official said the Chinese envoy would also be briefed about measures for the security of Chinese nationals.

He said Pakistan and China would jointly foil the ‘evil design of common enemy’ against the mega energy project.

Meanwhile, the World Bank officials visited the Barseen camp of the Chinese workers and engineers, and observed one-minute silence for the bus blast victims.

They also laid a wreath on the memorial for blast victims.

The visitors also met the Chinese team leader and visited the Dasu project site to review security measures.

Chief engineer of the project Masroor Naqvi told them that 10 per cent work had been completed.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army has taken over the security of Karakoram Highway,Brigadier Habibullah told a ‘peace jirga’ called by the district administration in Dasu area.

The jirga was also addressed by deputy commissioner Arif Khan Yusufzai, district police officer Arif Javed and local elders.

The local elders announced support for the crackdown on security forces on terrorism and said they won’t allow terrorists to sabotage projects.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2021