MOHMAND, Pakistan — WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Saeed has called for an accelerated work plan to ensure the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project meets its ambitious deadlines. During a site inspection on Friday, he urged contractors and consultants to ramp up construction efforts, particularly in developing quarries and filling the main dam structure.
The $2.7 billion mega-project, currently under construction on the Swat River, is a critical part of Pakistan’s strategy to boost water storage, control floods, and generate clean power.
On-Site Review of Key Structures
Saeed inspected ongoing work at several critical components, including the spillway, powerhouse, diversion tunnels, upstream coffer dam, and the power tunnel. Contractors briefed him on timelines, reporting that the river diversion system had successfully managed recent flood surges, a key milestone in keeping the project on schedule.
Main dam filling began in May 2025 after extensive excavation on both abutments. Officials confirmed that the dam is expected to begin producing electricity in December 2027, marking a major milestone for Pakistan’s renewable energy sector.
Officials Demand Extra Resources
The WAPDA chief directed contractors to mobilize additional manpower and equipment to avoid delays. He was joined by senior WAPDA officials, including Finance Member Naveed Asghar Chaudhry, Water Member Syed Ali Akhtar Shah, and Power Member Muhammad Arfan Miana, alongside Mohmand Dam Project Director Engr Asim Rauf Khan.
One of the Tallest Dams in the World
Standing as the world’s fifth tallest concrete-face rock-fill dam, Mohmand Dam will have a storage capacity of 1.29 million acre-feet (MAF), allowing irrigation for 18,237 acres of new farmland while boosting water supply to 160,000 acres of existing agricultural land in Mohmand and Charsadda districts.
Once operational, the 800 MW hydropower station is projected to generate 2.86 billion units of electricity annually and provide 300 million gallons of drinking water per day to Peshawar. The dam is also expected to significantly reduce flood risks in downstream areas, including Charsadda, Peshawar, and Nowshera.
