Achi news desk-
Civil work at the Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha Dam sites has been temporarily suspended by the Chinese companies overseeing operations due to security concerns, a day after work was also suspended at the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project.
The development comes after a terror attack in Shangla claimed the lives of at least six people including five Chinese engineers, who were working on the Dasu Dam, earlier this week.
The victims were killed when an explosives-laden vehicle hit the bus carrying them on the Karakoram highway in Bisham district on Tuesday.
Around 991 Chinese engineers were working on the two projects, while the local staff were told to stay at home until further instructions, an official working on the project confirmed.
About 741 Chinese people and 6,000 local people work on the 4,320 MW Dasu Dam in Upper Kohistan District. However, work on the Mohmand Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues with Chinese engineers still working on site.
Similarly, Diamer-Bhasha Dam (DBD) GM Nazakat Hussain also confirmed that the Chinese company has stopped work on the dam. He said around 500 Chinese nationals are involved in DBD but FWO staff continue to work. Around 6,000 local people are busy building dams.
He hoped that the situation would normalize in a few days, leading to the return of Chinese workers. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam would generate 4,800 MW of electricity through hydropower generation.
However, Mohmand Dam GM Asim Rauf told The News that 250 Chinese are still working on Mohmand Dam and have not stopped working.
“The Chinese have shown satisfaction regarding the security situation in the project area and they are working on the site,” said the official.
Upon completion, the Mohmand Dam will generate 740 MWs of hydroelectricity, irrigate 15,100 acres of land and control flooding downstream.
