The Diamer-Bhasha Dam stands as a monumental project situated on the mighty River Indus, nestled between the Kohistan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Diamer district in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan administered Kashmir. Its origins trace back to 1998 when the foundation stone was ceremoniously laid by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, marking the initiation of an ambitious endeavor. Positioned approximately 40 kilometers downstream of Chilas town and a considerable distance of 315 kilometers from Tarbela Dam, the site boasts strategic significance, nestled near a locale aptly named “Bhasha”.
Noteworthy for its sheer magnitude, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam promises to be a titan among infrastructure projects, slated to be the tallest roller compact concrete (RCC) dam globally, soaring to a height of 272 meters. The realization of this colossal feat is indebted to collaborative efforts, with China lending crucial support in its construction.
The genesis of the project can be traced back to January 2006, when under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf, the Government of Pakistan unveiled plans for the construction of five multi-purpose storage dams over the course of a decade. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam emerged as the flagship initiative, envisioned to address a spectrum of needs encompassing energy, water storage, irrigation, and flood control.
Financial projections in November 2008 estimated the project’s cost at a staggering $12.6 billion, with a storage capacity of 10 cubic kilometers. The anticipated benefits upon completion are manifold, ranging from the generation of 4800 megawatts of hydroelectric power to the storage of additional water reserves for irrigation and drinking purposes. Moreover, the dam is projected to bolster the longevity of the Tarbela Dam downstream by a substantial margin of 35 years and mitigate the impact of floods along the Indus River corridor.
The contractual agreement inked in May 2020 between the Pakistani government and a joint venture comprising China Power and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) heralded a significant milestone in the project’s trajectory, paving the way for its tangible realization. Detailed specifications delineate the dam’s key features, encompassing its maximum height, type, diversion system, spillway configuration, reservoir level, and power generation infrastructure.
Beyond its infrastructural prowess, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam assumes a pivotal role in fostering socio-economic development, offering a beacon of hope for local communities through employment opportunities and infrastructural enhancement. Moreover, its role in bolstering Pakistan’s energy security and environmental sustainability underscores its significance on both national and global scales.
In summation, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam epitomizes a testament to human ingenuity and collaboration, composed to reshape the landscape while ushering in a new era of progress and prosperity for Pakistan and its people.