Chairman WAPDA, Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd), has called for the deployment of additional resources to ensure the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project commences electricity generation by 2025-26. During his recent visit to the project site at Tunnel No. 5 of Tarbela Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Chairman reviewed construction activities and assessed progress.
Accompanied by senior officials including Member Water, Member Power, and Project Directors of Tarbela 4th and 5th Extensions, the Chairman inspected various construction sites such as the raised intake, power house, and tunnel. Consultants and contractors provided detailed briefings on the progress.
Following the site inspection, a meeting was held at the project office where a comprehensive presentation on key project components was delivered. Construction is actively underway in five critical areas: intake, penstock and outlet, power house, tail race culvert and canal, and switch yard. The Chairman emphasized the need to expedite work to meet the project’s 2025-26 completion timeline, directing contractors to allocate additional resources to adhere to the implementation plan. He also stressed the importance of maintaining high-quality standards throughout the project.
The Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project is part of WAPDA’s green, clean, and cost-effective energy generation initiative. The World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are providing financial assistance amounting to $390 million and $300 million respectively. With a generation capacity of 1530 MW from three 510 MW units, the project will supply 1.347 billion units of hydel electricity to the National Grid annually. Upon completion, the installed capacity at Tarbela Dam will increase from 4888 MW to 6418 MW, marking a significant enhancement in Pakistan’s renewable energy capacity.
