Tarbela Dam Project Cost Goes Over-Budget By Rs. 23,400 Crore

The Tarbela 5th Extension Project in Pakistan has experienced a massive cost overrun, with its estimated cost surging by 282 percent, or Rs. 234 billion, from Rs. 82 billion to Rs. 316 billion. This increase comes despite significant concerns raised by the Planning Minister and Finance Ministry regarding project management, oversight, and previous structural failures, including a cofferdam collapse linked to design flaws and inadequate supervision. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, approved the revised cost as part of a larger package of 16 development schemes totaling Rs. 1.15 trillion, many of which also show substantial cost increases. The project's financing is through international lenders, prompting the Finance Ministry to seek repayment details. This over-budget approval highlights ongoing issues with large-scale infrastructure project management and transparency in the region.