The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved a revised Rs. 485 billion proposal for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project that includes funds for the purchase of a helicopter on security grounds. The revised plan has now been forwarded to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.

The decision was taken during a CDWP meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal.

Officials confirmed that the revision of the PC-I includes approval for helicopter procurement strictly for security-related requirements, while the remaining dam component revision has been directed to be submitted without delay.

During the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal also expressed serious concern over prolonged delays in the submission of the revised PC-I for the dam portion, pointing out that no updated plan had been submitted for the past six years despite significant cost escalation from the originally approved Rs. 480 billion estimate in 2018.