Water and Power Development Authority sign agreement worth Rs.4.8 billion with China Railway First Group for Dasu project colony

Lahore, November 17, 2015 (PPI-OT): The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) signed the contract worth Rs.4 .8 billion with China Railway First Group (CRFG) for construction of project colony and allied infrastructure therein for Dasu Hydropower Project.

The contract includes construction of project offices, residential houses, hostels, rest house, hospital, community centre, parks, and playground which will be completed in about two years.

Dasu Hydropower Project General Manager (WAPDA) Haji Muhammad Farooq Ahmed and CRFG General Manager Xian Zhengjum signed the agreement on behalf of their organisations in a ceremony held here at WAPDA House. WAPDA Chairman Zafar Mahmood, Member (Water) Muhammad Shoaib Iqbal, Member (Power) Badrul Munir Murtiza, senior WAPDA officers and representatives of the project consultants participated in the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, WAPDA Chairman said that this is another good day for Dasu Hydropower Project, as the fourth contract of the project has been awarded today through a transparent system for bid evaluation. He urged upon the contractor to complete the works within the stipulated time. The Chairman further said that expression of interest (EoI) submitted by various construction firms of international repute for civil works of the dam and powerhouse are being processed, while construction on the dam and powerhouse will commence as soon as the required process is completed.

It is worth mentioning that the contractors of three contracts, which were awarded earlier, mobilised at sites for construction of 132-KV transmission line from Duber Khwar Hydel Power Station to Dasu project site, relocation of Karakoram Highway and construction of the right bank access road.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Federal Government is implementing Dasu Hydropower Project in two stages i.e. Stage-I and II. World Bank is financing Stage-I of the Project with an IDA Credit of US$ 588.4 million and an IDA PCG of US$ 460 million. The 2160 MW-Stage-I is scheduled to be completed in five years and will contribute more than 12 billion units of cheap, affordable and environment-friendly electricity to the national grid every year. The project will not only add a sizeable quantum of low-cost electricity to the national grid but also provide relief to the consumers by reducing power tariff. To cap it all, the project will usher in a new era of socio-economic development in the far-flung areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

For more information, contact:
Muhammad Abid Rana
Director Public Relations
Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA)
G-32, WAPDA House, Lahore
Tel: +92-42-99202633
Fax: +92-42-99203144
Cell: +92-333-4458293
Email: mabidrana@gmail.com
Website: www.wapda.gov.pk