Wapda, SCO sign Rs860 million IT services contract for Diamer-Basha Dam construction

LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and the Special Communication Organisation (SCO) signed an agreement worth Rs860 million for an uninterrupted and state-of-the-art communication and information technology services for the dam project, a statement said on Wednesday.

The services may also be utilised for other Wapda projects, as well, it added.

The contract signing ceremony was recently held at the Wapda House. Diamer-Basha Dam project general manager Muhammad Yousuf Rao and SCO director development Col Muhammad Saadi Manzoor signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

Wapda Member (Water) Jawaid Akhter Latif and other senior officers of the two organisations were also present at the event.

Diamer-Basha Dam is of immense strategic significance, construction of which requires uninterrupted and state-of-the-art communication and information technology services in the project area in the most challenging terrain and weather.

Under the contract, SCO will provide 4G cellular sites equipment, transmission media, comprising 300km optic fibre cable from Thakot to Chilas, power arrangements and all required civil works, including the construction of towers, as well as commissioning of 4G sites at various locations of Diamer-Basha Dam project.

The multipurpose Diamer-Basha Dam is being constructed on River Indus, 40km downstream of Chilas town. The project, commenced in the middle of 2020, is scheduled to be completed in 2028/29. Diamer-Basha Dam will have a gross water storage capacity of 8.1MAF to irrigate 1.23 million acres of additional land.

With the installed power generation capacity of 4,500MW, the project will provide more than 18 billion units/annum to the national grid.

The construction of Diamer-Basha Dam will also have a positive impact on the annual energy generation of the existing hydel power stations, including Tarbela, Ghazi Barotha, etc, which will increase by another 2.5 billion units.

In addition, the life of the Tarbela Dam, which has been playing a pivotal role for the progress of the country since 1974, will also increase by another 35 years.