Chinese companies overseeing the construction of the Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha Dams have temporarily halted civil work at the project sites due to security concerns. This decision follows a recent terror attack in Shangla that resulted in the tragic deaths of at least six individuals, including five Chinese engineers working on the Dasu Dam.
The fatal incident occurred when a vehicle laden with explosives targeted a bus carrying the engineers along the Karakoram Highway in the Bisham area earlier this week. Consequently, approximately 991 Chinese engineers involved in both projects have been affected by the suspension, with local staff instructed to remain at home until further notice.
The Dasu Dam project, located in District Upper Kohistan, employs around 741 Chinese and 6,000 local workers to develop a 4,320 MW hydroelectric power facility. However, work on the Mohmand Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues, with Chinese engineers still active at the site.
Similarly, GM Diamer-Bhasha Dam (DBD) Nazakat Hussain confirmed the suspension of work by the Chinese company at the DBD site, where approximately 500 Chinese nationals are involved alongside a significant local workforce of 6,000 individuals. Hussain expressed optimism that the situation would stabilize soon, allowing the Chinese employees to return. Once completed, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam is expected to generate 4,800 MW of electricity through hydropower generation.
Contrary to the halts at other sites, the GM of the Mohmand Dam, Asim Rauf, reported that work continues with 250 Chinese personnel on-site, emphasizing their satisfaction with the security situation. The completion of the Mohmand Dam will result in the generation of 740 MW of hydroelectricity, irrigation of 15,100 acres of land, and the mitigation of downstream floods.
