Islamabad: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has instructed relevant officials to prioritize the completion of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project within the stipulated timeframe. The directive was issued during a meeting in Islamabad, where the minister reviewed the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) budget proposals, which are aligned with an Indicative Budget Ceiling of 1,000 billion rupees allocated by the Finance Ministry for the fiscal year 2025-26.

Iqbal underscored the urgency of addressing the country’s water shortage, emphasizing that the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project is a critical solution. The project is expected to generate 4,500 megawatts of electricity, providing a significant boost to the national grid.

The minister stressed the importance of prioritizing new projects based on their relevance to the national development agenda, URAAN Pakistan. He urged all concerned ministries to focus on projects that are critical and nearing completion.

In addition, Iqbal instructed the ministries to compile a list of essential projects at risk of being adversely affected by potential budget cuts. The meeting served as a platform to align the country’s development priorities with available resources, ensuring that key projects receive the necessary attention and funding.