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Pak Dam Project Involving Chinese Firms Hit by Fresh Collapse, Work Halted
Sentiment: NeutralHigh Priority
What Happened?
A protective bund at Pakistan's Tarbela Dam project collapsed, causing an emergency halt to construction. This incident follows a previous collapse in July 2025.
Key points
- The collapse occurred at Tunnel-5 of the Tarbela Dam's 5th Extension Hydropower Project.
- An emergency was declared, and construction work was suspended immediately.
- The inquiry committee identified unauthorized design changes as a major cause of the collapse.
- WAPDA approved a design alteration without ensuring technical compliance.
- The project's estimated cost has escalated from PKR 82.36 billion to PKR 317 billion.
- Completion deadline has been moved from 2026 to June 2028.
Key insights
- The inquiry highlights significant contractual breaches among stakeholders, which may lead to legal repercussions.
- The project's rising costs could deter future investments in similar infrastructure projects in Pakistan.
- The failure to adhere to original design specifications raises concerns about engineering practices in large-scale projects.
Why it matters
The collapse could further delay the already troubled Tarbela Dam project, impacting energy generation in Pakistan.
Tags
Entities
Tarbela Dam· LocationPower Construction Corporation of China Limited· CompanyPakistan Water and Power Development Authority· OrganizationWorld Bank· OrganizationAsian Infrastructure Investment Bank· Organization
Source
India Today
