Pakistan and the World Bank have agreed to accelerate the implementation of the Dasu Hydropower Project (DHP), which will involve the construction of a 242-meter (794-foot) tall dam and a 4,320 MW hydropower station. This development was confirmed by Martin Raiser, the World Bank’s Vice President for South Asia, following his meeting with Pakistan’s energy ministers, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Laghari (Power) and Musadik Masood Malik (Petroleum).
The two sides emphasized their shared commitment to cleaner energy and reducing system losses and costs. Raiser highlighted the Dasu project as a key initiative under the newly launched 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF).
The first phase of the Dasu project, which will produce 2,160 MW of power, is expected to begin generating electricity by July 2027. The dam and hydropower plant will be built in two phases, each with a capacity of 2,160 MW. The World Bank has scheduled a mission from February 10 to March 5, 2025, to monitor progress on the project’s first stage.
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Despite progress, concerns over delays have arisen, with the Ministry of Economic Affairs noting that the project’s advancement has slowed due to challenges such as delays in securing additional financing worth $1 billion and restrictions on transportation for international workers and experts.
Meanwhile, Minister Awais Leghari has requested the World Bank’s support for funding the installation of smart meters at distribution transformers. These meters would improve transparency and address load management issues, especially in areas where inefficient consumers are subsidizing those who use power more efficiently.
The meeting also discussed the need for further investment in smart metering at distribution levels to manage peak demand and ensure better load management. Leghari invited the World Bank to consider investment in public-private partnerships for smart metering projects in Lahore and Multan electric supply companies.
The World Bank has expressed its commitment to providing support for these efforts and ensuring timely utilization of funds for the power sector, which includes ongoing initiatives in smart metering and distribution company improvements.
