Diamer-Bhasha Dam

Dam in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

Upon completion, Diamer Bhasha dam would (i) produce 4800 megawatts of electricity through hydro power generation; (ii) store an extra of water for Pakistan that would be used for irrigation and drinking; (iii) extend the life of Tarbela Dam located downstream by 35 years; and (iv) control flood damage by the River Indus downstream during high floods. However, in response to using Basha Dam to sideline the Kalabagh Dam, Engineer Anwer Khurshid has stated that "Bhasha dam is no substitute for Kalabagh dam not because of its altitude which is high enough, but because no irrigation canals can be taken out from it because of the hilly terrain. No canals can be taken out from any dam on the Indus except from Kalabagh Dam." It is planned to have a height of 272 meters spillway with fourteen gates each 11.5 m × 16.24 m. The gross capacity of the reservoir will be , with a live storage of Two underground powerhouses are being proposed, one on each side of the main dam having six turbines on each side with a total installed capacity of 4500 MW. On 13 May 2020, the Pakistani government signed a Rs.442 billion contract with a joint venture of China Power and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) for the construction of the dam. The eight million acre feet (MAF) reservoir with 272 metre height will be the tallest roller compact concrete (RCC) dam in the world.

In January 2006, the Government of Pakistan under President Pervez Musharraf announced the decision to construct 5 multi purpose storage dams in the country during next 10–12 years. According to the plan, the Diamer Bhasha Dam project was proposed to be built in the first phase. In November 2008, the executive committee of National Economic Council formally approved the project. Council of Common Interests Pakistan, a constitutional body representing the provinces, also approved the construction of the dam. The Prime Minister of Pakistan laid the foundation stone of the project on 18 October 2011.

The dam will submerge heritage including rock carvings/petroglyphs dating as far back as 6th millennium BC. Locals say that these are not only of great historical significance for Buddhists but also for promoting tourism and need to relocate to safe side.

The Diamer Bhasha Dam has been mired in controversy due to the dam fund launched by former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar in July 2018. The fund, which was later joined by the then Prime Minister Imran Khan, was intended to collect donations for the construction of the Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams. What was collected. Furthermore, the fund was seen as an exercise in judicial overreach, with Nisar's actions during his tenure, including the initiation of the fund, being seen as controversial.