Pakistan’s Tarbela-5 hydropower project hit by fresh collapse; Workers evacuated, construction halted
Babushahi Bureau
Pakistan, November 10, 2026: Pakistan’s Chinese-backed Tarbela-5 hydropower project has suffered another major setback after a protective bund near Tunnel-5 collapsed on Monday, triggering a sudden inflow of reservoir water into the construction area and forcing authorities to suspend work and evacuate workers to safer locations.
The incident occurred at the 1,530-megawatt Tarbela Dam 5th Extension Hydropower Project, where civil construction work has been awarded to China’s Power Construction Corporation of China Limited (PCCCL).
The latest collapse is the second major structural failure reported at the project since 2025. It has renewed concerns over construction standards, contractual compliance and project management.
An earlier cofferdam collapse was examined by a three-member independent inquiry committee. According to a report cited by Dawn, the committee identified unauthorised design changes and contractual violations involving the contractor, consultant and Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) as key factors behind the failure.
The inquiry reportedly found that a proposed change in the cofferdam design, replacing it with a rock-filled structure, was approved without adequately examining its technical shortcomings and contractual validity. It also rejected the argument that unusual flooding had caused the earlier collapse, stating that water flows were within historical levels and should have been considered during the original design.
The earlier incident reportedly resulted in delays of at least two years and a sharp increase in project costs. The estimated expenditure rose from 82.36 billion Pakistani rupees to 317 billion rupees, representing an escalation of more than 285 per cent.
The project's completion deadline has consequently been pushed from 2026 to June 2028.
The project is backed by loans totalling $700 million from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Chinese companies, including PCCCL, Harbin Electric International Company Limited and Harbin Electric Machinery Company Limited, are involved in the project.