ISLAMABAD – In response to India’s recent threats to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, China has decided to speed up the construction of the Mohmand Dam in Pakistan, a significant project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The decision highlights the growing tensions between India and Pakistan over water-sharing agreements.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the concrete filling for the Mohmand Dam has now begun, marking a critical milestone in the project’s accelerated construction. Initially scheduled for completion in 2026, the dam is now expected to be finished earlier, with Chinese authorities emphasizing its importance for both regional cooperation and strategic leverage.
The Mohmand Hydropower Project, being developed by the state-owned China Energy Engineering Corporation since 2019, is designed to serve multiple purposes, including flood control, irrigation, water supply, and electricity generation. Once completed, the dam will provide 800 MW of electricity and 300 million gallons of drinking water daily to Peshawar, a major city in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The acceleration of the dam’s construction comes after India’s recent threats to suspend the World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty. These tensions have emerged following the Pahalgam incident, further inflaming the already strained relations between the two neighboring countries. In response, China has reiterated its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s strategic infrastructure projects.
Beyond the Mohmand Dam, China’s growing partnership with Pakistan extends to several other major initiatives. This includes the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, which is often referred to as Pakistan’s “Three Gorges Project,” highlighting the importance of large-scale water projects in China-Pakistan cooperation.
This rapid development of key infrastructure projects like Mohmand Dam reflects the increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics in South Asia, where water security has become a central issue in regional power struggles. China’s active role in Pakistan’s development underscores its influence in the region, marking a new chapter in its strategic and economic partnerships.