Completion of the projects is expected to increase Pakistan’s water storage capacity by 9.7 million acre-feet and power generation by 11,000 megawatts, according to an UrduPoint special report.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 9th Sep, 2026) Construction activity on major water and hydropower projects being developed by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is expected to accelerate in 2026.
The prominent projects include the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Dasu Hydropower Project, Mohmand Dam and Tarbela Fifth Extension.
According to an UrduPoint special report, work on WAPDA’s ongoing projects is progressing rapidly under the leadership of WAPDA Chairman Lieutenant General (retd) Muhammad Saeed.
He personally visits project sites to monitor progress, performance reports, ongoing construction, quality and other matters to ensure timely completion.
A WAPDA report said completion of the projects would increase Pakistan’s water storage capacity by approximately 9.7 million acre-feet.
WAPDA’s installed hydropower generation capacity is expected to rise from approximately 9,500 megawatts to 20,000 megawatts. The projects are also expected to provide a combined 560 million gallons of water per day to Karachi and Peshawar.
WAPDA’s list of ongoing projects includes the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Dasu Dam, Mohmand Dam, Tarbela Fifth Extension, Kachhi Canal, Nai Gaj Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, the Kyal Khwar Hydropower Project and the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme K-IV.
The Diamer-Bhasha Dam, being built on the Indus River, will have an installed power generation capacity of 4,500 megawatts and water storage capacity of approximately 8.1 million acre-feet.
WAPDA expects the project to generate approximately 18 billion units of electricity annually. Progress on roller-compacted concrete (RCC) work on the main dam in 2026 has been described as a key milestone.
The project is expected to significantly increase water storage capacity and improve water availability for the agriculture sector.
The Dasu Hydropower Project has a total generation capacity of 4,320 megawatts and is being completed in two stages.
WAPDA is currently working on Stage-I, which has a generation capacity of 2,160 megawatts and is expected to add approximately 12 billion units of electricity annually to the national grid. According to WAPDA, preparations had been made to begin RCC work on the project’s main dam in the second quarter of 2026, while power generation from Stage-I is targeted to begin in December 2027.
Once both stages are completed, the project is expected to generate approximately 21 billion units of electricity annually.
Construction of roads, bridges and other infrastructure is also continuing in the Dasu project area.
WAPDA said 69 infrastructure and public health schemes had been included for local development in areas affected by the project.
The Mohmand Dam, under construction in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mohmand district, is another major WAPDA project.
It has an installed power generation capacity of 800 megawatts and water storage capacity of approximately 1.
29 million acre-feet. The dam is expected to generate approximately 2.86 billion units of electricity annually.
Its key objectives also include supplying 300 million gallons of drinking water per day to Peshawar and protecting Charsadda, Peshawar and Nowshera from floods. According to WAPDA, impounding of water in the main dam began in 2025, marking important progress in construction.
The Tarbela Fifth Extension Hydropower Project aims to generate additional hydropower from the existing Tarbela Dam.
The project has a generation capacity of 1,530 megawatts and is expected to significantly increase the overall generation capacity of the Tarbela hydropower complex. Like WAPDA’s other projects, it aims to expand low-cost and environment-friendly electricity generation.
WAPDA’s projects also include key water supply schemes for Karachi and Peshawar.
Under the first phase of the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme K-IV, Karachi is planned to receive 260 million gallons of water per day, while the Mohmand Dam will provide 300 million gallons per day to Peshawar.
Together, the two projects are expected to make 560 million gallons of water per day available for urban use.
WAPDA’s ongoing-projects list also includes the Kachhi Canal, Nai Gaj Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam and Kyal Khwar Hydropower Project.
These projects relate to irrigation, water storage, flood protection and hydropower generation.
WAPDA said its 22 hydropower stations generated a combined 33.12 billion units of electricity in 2025, accounting for approximately 30 percent of the country’s total power generation.
It added that the average tariff for hydropower during the period was approximately Rs3.83 per unit, making hydropower one of the relatively low-cost energy sources available in the country.
Progress on WAPDA’s major projects is being regarded as important for Pakistan’s energy and water sectors.
However, their success will depend on timely construction, availability of financial resources, security, cooperation from local communities and completion within the prescribed timelines. WAPDA said work on the Dasu Hydropower Project had been affected in the past by security and law-and-order issues, after which directions were issued to accelerate construction.
Experts said that if the major projects are completed according to their targets, Pakistan could gain significant benefits through low-cost hydropower, additional water storage, improved water availability for agriculture and increased water supply to urban areas.
According to WAPDA, completion of the projects will provide a long-term foundation for meeting Pakistan’s water and energy needs. However, timely completion and effective cost control will be vital to the success of the entire programme.
