- Lt-Gen (r) Muhammad Saeed visits Dasu Dam project, reviews progress on multiple fronts
- Excavation of main dam foundation to be complete by January 2026 as work 20 sites progressing simultaneously; key milestones already achieved: briefing
- 20.4 km RKKH-1 with 7 tunnels, 3 bridges to be opened for traffic by June 2026
DASU: The roller-compacted concrete (RCC) works on the main dam of Dasu Hydropower Project are set to begin in the second quarter of 2026, as excavation of the dam’s foundation pit is scheduled for completion in January 2026, followed by RCC trials over the next two to three months, according to a statement issued by WAPDA.
This update was shared during WAPDA Chairman Lt-Gen (r) Muhammad Saeed’s visit to the under-construction project on Saturday, where he reviewed progress on multiple fronts including the main dam pit, crushing and batching plants, powerhouse and transformer caverns, Logro tunnel, and the Barseen bridge of the relocated Karakorum Highway (RKKH-1).
Briefings informed the Chairman that construction activities are simultaneously underway at 20 different sites, with major milestones already achieved such as the river diversion system, excavation of the main switchyard for the 765kV transmission line, excavation of right and left abutments of the dam, land acquisition, and Phase-A of the project colony. The underground powerhouse excavation is expected to finish by February 2026, while the 20.4 km-long RKKH-1 — comprising seven tunnels and three bridges — will open to traffic by June 2026.
Underscoring the project’s significance for Pakistan’s clean and affordable energy mix, the Chairman urged contractors and consultants to accelerate work to compensate for delays caused by law and order challenges. He emphasized the importance of local administration and police in ensuring uninterrupted progress, frequently hampered by protests and road blockades.
On the occasion, the Chairman also inaugurated the arch portion of the Barseen Bridge, noted as the longest arch bridge in Pakistan, and reviewed security arrangements in the project area.
WAPDA highlighted that the project is not only focused on energy production but also on community uplift through a local area development programme of 69 infrastructure and public health schemes worth billions of rupees — of which 28 have been completed.
The 4,320 MW Dasu Hydropower Project is being developed in two stages. Currently, Stage-I (2,160 MW) is under construction with World Bank financing of $1.57 billion and is expected to generate 12 billion units of low-cost, eco-friendly electricity annually by December 2027. Once Stage-II is implemented, the project will supply an additional 9 billion units annually, making Dasu Pakistan’s largest energy-generating project with a total of 21 billion units per year.
