Islamabad: The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has decided to provide funds of PKR 98 billion for the construction of Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams, a news source reported. The total construction cost for the two dams is estimated at PKR 1,809 billion.
According to WAPDA, construction work on the two major dams – Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand – will begin in the first and second quarters of 2019. The bigger Diamer Bhasha Dam will take nine years whereas Mohmand Dam would take six years to complete.
Since it was first established on July 6, the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams fund has managed to collect PKR 8.46 billion so far. The statistics were released by the State Bank of Pakistan which had last month put the figure at PKR 7.97 billion.
According to latest statistics, overseas Pakistanis contributed around PKR 1 billion (10.6% of the total contribution), while local individuals and institutions donated PKR 7.47 billion to the fund.
Citizens within Pakistan contributed through cheques, cash, and SMS service. At least PKR 125 million was received though SMS services of the four cellular companies.
Many overseas Pakistanis made contributions through debit and credit cards, others deposited money in the designated SBP account and commercial banks overseas.
