ISLAMABAD Jan 31: Construction work on the $6.5 billion Bhasha-Diamer dam is expected to start in 2007 after the completion of preparatory work, including soil testing, engineering designing, reconstruction of the Karakoram Highway between Thakot Bridge to the dam site. The dam would be completed before 2016.

This information was provided to a meeting on Bhasha-Diamer dam which was convened and chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday.

The prime minister said the government would ensure the completion of the project by 2016 as decided by the cabinet.

Mr Aziz assured all stakeholders that the government would take care of their legitimate demands and would address and solve issues related to the dam in a judicious manner. He said: “Justice will be done to all.”

He said the commissioning of the Bhasha-Diamer dam would usher in an era of rapid development besides opening up new economic opportunities in the Northern Areas.

The prime minister said the dam was likely to add about 3-4 per cent in the country’s GDP besides boosting the agricultural and industrial sectors by increasing electricity generation capacity and better irrigation facilities.

Federal minister and minister of state for Water and Power, minister for Kashmir affairs and Northern areas also attended the meeting. Chairman of Wapda presented an update on the status of the project.

The decision to build Bhasha dam was taken by the federal cabinet recently when efforts for achieving a consensus on starting construction of Kalabagh dam failed.

Wapda chairman told the meeting that the feasibility of Basha-Diamer dam was complete and work on detailed engineering design had been initiated.

He said the dam’s design was being prepared by a consortium of consultants led by a German firm M/s Lamehyrs. Preparations like soil testing and engineering designing of road construction would be competed in 2006 after which actual construction work on dam would begin.

The meeting was informed that all indicators of the project’s status were positive.

The feasibility for realignment of the Karakoram Highway from Thakot Bridge to the dam site had been initiated by the National Highway Authority, the meeting was informed. After completion of the engineering work, physical reconstruction of the road would be taken in hand.