The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is on the brink of a major milestone at the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project, as the diversion tunnels have been completed, setting the stage for the diversion of the Swat River in the coming days. The river diversion will follow the finalization of the river-closure-dyke, despite the challenges posed by the high-flow season.
In light of this progress, WAPDA Chairman Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd) visited the project site to assess the ongoing construction activities. His inspection included detailed visits to various critical areas such as the diversion tunnels’ outlets and inlets, powerhouse, spillway, and power intake.
During a briefing by the General Manager/Project Director and the project team, the Chairman was informed that the concrete lining of diversion tunnel 3/1 and its inlet structure are ready for river diversion. Additionally, significant progress has been made in the excavation and rock support for the powerhouse and power intake, as well as in the concreting of the spillway. The dam fill material has been dispatched to China for large-scale tri-axial testing.
The Chairman also chaired a progress review meeting, emphasizing the importance of adhering to quality standards in accordance with the project specifications. Discussions focused on the river diversion plan, quarries development, and the construction schedule for the main dam.
Mohmand Dam, located on the Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mohmand District, will be the 5th highest concrete-face-rock-fill dam (CFRD) globally and the tallest in Pakistan. Scheduled for completion in 2026-27, the multipurpose project will store 1.29 MAF of water, irrigate new and existing land, supply 300 million gallons of drinking water daily to Peshawar, and generate 800 MW of hydropower. The dam is expected to provide annual benefits estimated at Rs. 51.6 billion.
