Report by Engineering Post
WAPDA’s somewhat prestigious 1410 MW Tarbela 5th Extension Hydro Power project continues to suffer from cost and time escalation even after more than a decade- long implementation.
The project was last approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in December 2016 at a higher revised cost of Rs 82361.000 million including Rupee Cover of Rs 3988.000 million brushing aside all concerns and objections whatsoever.
It is being co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Its original cost was around Rs 82 billion which has surged to Rs 234 billion indicating a massive surge of as high as 282 percent.
An estimated expenditure of Rs 122896.479 million was reported to have been incurred on its prolonged delayed implementation till end June 2026.
Against a negative throw forward of Rs -63268.950 million, only Rs 3400.000 in rupee Cover has been allocated for its continued implementation under the Public Sector Development Programme during financial year 2026-27.
Addition of 1410 MW, as and when the 5th Extension Project is going to be completed, will raise total generation of Tarbela Dam to 629 MW against original production capacity of 349 MW.
Tarbela Dam was constructed in the mid-1970 at the cost of multi-purpose but condemned Kalabagh Dam to say the least, please.
