The cost of building the Dasu Hydropower Project has gone up, and WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) has shared the reasons why. According to WAPDA, the main reason is the fall in the value of the Pakistani Rupee compared to the US Dollar.
Back in 2014, one US Dollar was worth 100 Pakistani Rupees. Now, in 2025, one Dollar is equal to 280 Rupees. Because of this big change in currency value, the cost of the project increased by 85%. Simply put, it now takes a lot more Rupees to pay for the same things.
The remaining 15% increase is due to changes in the project’s design and work scope. The Dasu Hydropower Project became more complex and needed more work, like the rebuilding of the Karakoram Highway.
WAPDA said all the big contracts for the Dasu Hydropower Project were given through international competitive bidding, which means companies from around the world had a chance to apply fairly. Most of these contracts were priced in Pakistani Rupees, which were affected by the dollar exchange rate.
To make sure the work is high quality, WAPDA also brought in 130 expert engineers, including 30 international professionals, to guide and check the construction process.
Even with the higher costs, WAPDA reminded the public that the Dasu project is very important for the country’s future. WAPDA provides around 32 billion units of affordable electricity to Pakistan’s national power grid each year. The cost is only PKR 3.71 per unit, which helps keep electricity prices low for everyone.
In short, WAPDA says the increase in cost is mostly due to the weaker Rupee and some extra construction needs. But the project is still a smart investment for Pakistan’s future, bringing clean, low-cost electricity and helping the country grow stronger.
