Several Chinese companies recently announced the suspension of various hydroelectric dam projects in Pakistan until further notice due to security concerns. Two companies, China Gezhouba Group Company Ltd. and China Power Investment Corporation, suspended work at the Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha dam projects, respectively, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Power Construction Corporation of China also ceased construction at the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project, located in the province’s Swabi district. The company also sent a letter to its employees, informing them of the shutdown and urging them “to stay indoors until further orders.”
The suspension led to the layoff of at least 6,000 workers at the project’s work sites. However, Chinese engineers are reportedly still working at the Mohmand Dam project, also located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The suspension comes after the March 26th terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of five engineers and one Pakistani driver who worked on the Dasu project.
China sent “a special group of Chinese investigators” to Pakistan to independently investigate the bombing, and its embassy called for the country to increase the protection of its citizens.
