TARBELA: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday performed the groundbreaking of $807 million Tarbela 5th Extension hydropower project (T-5), under the government’s “Decade of Dams 2018/28” vision.

The World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are providing $390 million and $300 million, respectively, for the project to be completed by 2024.

On the occasion, the prime minister was briefed about the project by Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) chairman Lt Gen Muzamil Hussain (Retd).

During the briefing, it was informed that the T-5 hydropower project will enhance the life of Tarbela Dam by addressing the issue of sedimentation and ensuring sustainable irrigation releases.

Prime Minister Imran Khan was told that the project will generate another 1,530MW of low-cost and environment-friendly electricity. With the completion of the T-5 project, the installed capacity of Tarbela Dam will increase from 4,888MW to 6,418MW.

The prime minister was also informed that the project will provide 1.347 billion units of low-cost and green energy to the national grid on an average every year. It will also generate around 3,000 employment opportunities during the construction phase.

The prime minister also planted a pine tree sapling to mark the event.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, federal ministers Omar Ayub Khan, Chaudhry Moonis Ilahi, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman and Chief Minister Mehmood Khan were also present on the occasion.

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