Islamabad: In a significant development reflecting rising regional water tensions, China has accelerated construction on the Mohmand Dam project in Pakistan. The move comes in response to recent threats to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, which has raised alarm over Pakistan’s long-term water security.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday that concrete filling has officially commenced at the dam site — a milestone that signals an expedited phase in the dam’s construction timeline. The project, situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is being developed by the China Energy Engineering Corporation and is regarded by both Beijing and Islamabad as a “national flagship project.”
Originally slated for completion in 2026, the Mohmand Hydropower Project is now being fast-tracked. Sources familiar with the project say the shift in pace is directly tied to the looming threat posed by the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Tensions between Pakistan and its eastern neighbor escalated following an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which led the Indian government to announce the suspension of the decades-old treaty that governs the use of the Indus River system. The move is widely viewed as one of the most serious diplomatic retaliations in recent years.
Signed in 1960 with World Bank mediation, the Indus Waters Treaty has long been a cornerstone of water-sharing and conflict mitigation between the two countries. Its suspension now casts a shadow over Pakistan’s agricultural and water supply systems, which rely heavily on the Indus River and its tributaries for nearly 80% of the country’s irrigation.
In response, Pakistani officials have underscored the urgency of fast-tracking domestic water infrastructure. “The acceleration of the Mohmand Dam is not just about energy — it is a strategic necessity in the current environment,” said a senior government source.
Once completed, the Mohmand Dam will have the capacity to store over 1.2 million acre-feet of water and generate 800 megawatts of electricity, making it a critical asset for both energy and irrigation in Pakistan.
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