Wapda justifies Dasu project’s cost escalation

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has hit back at the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), justifying an ‘astronomical increase’ in the cost of the Dasu Hydropower Project from Rs480bn to Rs1.74tr with 10-year delay. In its documents submitted to the CDWP, Wapda has also disclosed the transportation of Chinese engineers and workers engaged in the multi-billion-dollar project through helicopters due to security reasons following two deadly attacks on contractors’ convoys over the past years. “Without valid justifications beyond Wapda’s control, the CDWP would not have referred the project to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec)”, a Wapda official said, adding an inquiry report on the project delays and cost escalations was on record of the CDWP meeting that recommended it for consideration by Ecnec.