ISLAMABAD - After refusal from Asian Development Bank and declaring the Diamer Bhasha Dam Project a risk by World Bank, the Minister for Water and Power has asked its officials and Economic Affairs Division to furnish a report regarding other donors that might be available.
Ahmed Mukhtar Minister for Water and Power has also asked to mention the commitments from other interested donors in the report. He presided over a meeting held here in the ministry on Thursday to explore the options for building the mega project.
It is pertinent to mention here that ADB earlier was interested to fund Diamer Bhasha Dam project and the government was counting on it but all of sudden the situation changed and ADB pulled back its support for the project. It is also being said that ADB withdrawn its support due to Indian influence as most of office holders in ADB are Indians.
Minister for Water and Power Ch Ahmed Mukhtar has said in the meeting that government is determined to construct the mega water and power projects and all the options would be considered for their financing to complete them within shortest possible timeframe.
The Minister stated that construction of mega water projects to produce cheaper electricity is the top priority of the government. He observed that Bhasha Dam is life line for country’s economy and its construction will reduce dependence on thermal generation, save foreign exchange; create employment and socio-economic uplift of the area and standard of living of people. 
During the meeting minister asked Wapda, Economic Affairs Division and Ministry of Water and Power to furnish a report with all options and commitment from donors to finance 4,500MW Diamer Basha Dam.
Earlier, the Chairman Wapda briefed the meeting on the current status of the project; its benefits land acquisition, infrastructure development, compensation package, allocation by the govt and other related issues. He told the meeting that 35pc work on infrastructure development has been completed while the land acquisition and remaining work on infrastructure would be completed by 2013.