Tarbela: A delegation from the World Bank, led by Pankaj Gupta, the Regional Director for Infrastructure in South Asia, visited the 1530 MW-Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project currently under construction. The team was accompanied by Chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd).

During their visit, the delegation inspected several vital construction sites, including the raised intake, tunnel, penstock, and power house, where they observed ongoing work.

Chairman Ghani expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its continued support in developing Pakistan’s water and hydropower resources, emphasizing the long-standing partnership between the two entities.

The project manager briefed the delegation on the progress, noting that work is advancing well across all seven key construction fronts. Excavations on crucial components such as the raised intake shaft, penstock, power house, and switch yard have been completed, while concrete work and installation of equipment are underway. It is anticipated that electricity generation will begin in 2026.

The Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project is part of WAPDA’s initiative to generate green, clean, and cost-effective energy. The World Bank is contributing $390 million in financial assistance. Upon completion, the project will add three generating units of 510 MW each to the Tarbela Dam, boosting its capacity to 6418 MW and annually supplying 1.347 billion units of electricity to the National Grid.