WASHINGTON: The US Agency for International Development is seeking bids to perform an environmental and social impact assessment of Pakistan’s proposed 4,500 megawatt Diamer Bhasha hydroelectric project on the Indus River.

Questions may be submitted until June 17, with bids due on July 7.

On Tuesday, the World Bank approved two projects for Pakistan, providing $600 million for the 4,200 MW Dasu Hydropower Project and $100m for Sindh Water Irrigation Project.

Last year, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank agreed in principle to help Pakistan build the Diamer Bhasha dam and in May USAID solicited comments on a draft statement of work for the environmental and social impact assessment.

In 2008, Pakistan recruited firms for design, construction supervision, and contract administration of Diamer Bhasha.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2014