WAPDA Signs Contract for Relocated School Under Dasu Hydropower Project Resettlement Plan

Independent Report

ISLAMABAD, July 18: The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has signed a construction contract for a new school in Shahi Gyal under the Dasu Hydropower Project Resettlement Action Plan, ensuring the continuation of educational facilities for communities affected by the mega hydropower project.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony at the Dasu Hydropower Project office. The new school will replace the existing educational facility at Seer Gyal, which is being relocated after the original site was affected by project development.

According to WAPDA, the authority coordinated with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department to acquire land in Shahi Gyal for the new school, ensuring uninterrupted access to education for local residents during the resettlement process.

The construction contract has been awarded to M/s Shams-e-Ilahi, with the project scheduled for completion within 18 months.

The Dasu Hydropower Project, being developed by China Gezhouba Group Co. Ltd. (CGGC) on the Indus River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is one of Pakistan’s largest hydropower and renewable energy projects. The scheme includes a 242-metre-high roller-compacted concrete dam, spillways, diversion tunnels, underground power generation facilities and associated hydraulic infrastructure.

Upon completion, the project is expected to generate 4,320 megawatts of clean electricity, substantially increasing Pakistan’s hydropower capacity, strengthening energy security and supporting sustainable economic development. The relocation of community infrastructure, including educational facilities, forms an integral part of the project’s Resettlement Action Plan aimed at minimizing the social impact on affected communities.