Documents also showed a large increase in grants for the development of local communities affected by projects
ISLAMABAD:
The construction cost of Mohmand Dam and Dasu Hydropower Project has increased by a combined Rs1.607 trillion, pushing the total estimated cost of the two mega hydropower projects from about Rs800 billion to nearly Rs2.4 trillion.
According to documents tabled by the Ministry of Water Resources in the National Assembly, the estimated construction cost of the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project has increased from Rs309.558 billion to Rs665.743 billion, reflecting an increase of Rs356.18 billion.
According to the ministry, the original estimated cost of the project was approved under PC-I when the contract was awarded. The revised PC-I, carrying the updated estimate of Rs665.743 billion, is currently under consideration for the approval of the Ministry of Planning.
The ministry revealed that the estimated cost of Dasu Hydropower Project has increased from Rs486.093 billion, approved under 2014 PC-I, to Rs1.737 trillion, an increase of Rs1.251 trillion.
It added that the second revised PC-I of the Dasu project was approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) in December 2025.
The documents also showed a large increase in grants for the development of local communities affected by the projects.
Under the Mohmand Dam project, Rs 160 million had initially been allocated for the upliftment of the local population. Under the revised PC-I, the amount has been increased to Rs 4.5 billion.
Similarly, for the Dasu Dam project, the allocation for community development has been enhanced from Rs7 billion to Rs57 billion in the revised PC-I, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.
