WAPDA signs a Rs133.18 billion contract for gates and steel structures at Diamer-Basha Dam

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WAPDA signs a Rs133.18 billion contract for gates and steel structures at Diamer-Basha Dam

24 October 2026

Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority signed the HM-1 contract of the Diamer-Basha Dam project for Rs133.18 billion. The work went to the Power China-IKAN Joint Venture. Arif Ali, the project's chief engineer and project director, signed for WAPDA and Ling Jianke for the joint venture. The contract covers the hydro-mechanical equipment and hydraulic steel structures that control water flow: gates for the flushing tunnels on both banks, the power intakes and the dam outlets, along with steel lining, hoisting and pumping systems and related electrical works. The dam is being built on the Indus about 40 kilometres downstream of Chilas. It is designed for a gross storage of 8.1 million acre-feet and an installed power capacity of 4,500 megawatts. The signing was held at Wapda House in Lahore.

Contract value: Rs. 133.18 billion Contract: HM-1 Contract Contractor: Power China - IKAN Joint Venture Installed power capacity: 4,500 MW Gross storage capacity: 8.1 MAF River: Indus

Why it matters for exams: The Diamer-Basha Dam on the Indus is designed for 4,500 megawatts and 8.1 million acre-feet of gross storage, and is being built by WAPDA.

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24 October 2026 Source: Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)

In plain words

WAPDA Water and Power Development Authority — Pakistan's authority for water and hydropower projects.

MAF Million acre-feet — The unit in which large reservoirs are measured in South Asia.