The cost of the Tarbela Dam 5th Extension Project has increased by 282 percent. The project cost has risen by Rs. 234 billion.
Its original estimated cost was Rs. 82 billion. The revised cost has now reached Rs. 316 billion.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the revised project. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the ECNEC meeting.
The approval was part of a larger package of 16 development projects. The combined estimated cost of these projects stands at Rs. 1.15 trillion.
Tarbela Dam Project Faces Serious Concerns
The Tarbela Dam extension project has faced major delays and management concerns. The project has also experienced setbacks during its implementation.
An inquiry examined the collapse of the downstream cofferdam. The investigation linked the failure to several management and technical issues.
These included a design change and inadequate supervision. The inquiry also pointed to delayed administrative action.
The findings did not attribute the collapse to flooding. This raised further questions about project management and oversight.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal had earlier expressed concerns about transparency. He also questioned the project’s management and supervision.
The Finance Ministry also sought an explanation for the major cost increase. It requested details about the project’s repayment mechanism.
The project is being financed through international lenders. This made the sharp increase in cost an additional concern.
Despite these issues, ECNEC approved the revised cost of Rs. 316 billion.
Other Development Projects Approved
ECNEC also approved several major infrastructure and development schemes. These projects cover roads, bridges, wastewater treatment and education.
The Lahore-Sahiwal-Bahawalnagar Motorway was approved at Rs. 407 billion. Its original 295-kilometre alignment will remain unchanged.
The first 18.5-kilometre section was also approved. It will connect Lahore Ring Road with Raja Jang Interchange at Rs. 49 billion.
Another approved project is the Khwazakhela-Besham Expressway. It has an estimated cost of Rs. 116.6 billion.
A Rs. 29 billion road project will connect Gilgit-Baltistan with Azad Kashmir. The Rathoa Haryam Bridge was approved at Rs. 10.8 billion.
Its original estimated cost was only Rs. 1.4 billion. The committee also approved a Rs. 56.6 billion wastewater treatment project in Lahore.
A poverty alleviation programme worth Rs. 29.7 billion was also approved. It will cover 10 districts across southern Punjab.
The Fulbright scholarship programme received an allocation of Rs. 10.6 billion. Overall, the 16 projects include around Rs. 320 billion in additional costs.
These additional costs are linked to project delays and rising prices. The revised approvals highlight the growing financial burden of development projects.
In other news read more about WAPDA Chairman Reviews Progress on Tarbela Dam 5th Extension Project
The Tarbela Dam extension remains one of the major projects affected by the sharp cost increase.
