Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal says Diamer Basha Dam is a crucial project for Pakistan's water and food security and must be completed expeditiously in the national interest.

He was chairing a review meeting on the progress of the Diamer Basha Dam project in Islamabad today.

Ahsan Iqbal said that until 2018, the estimated construction cost of the Diamer Basha Dam was 479 billion rupees and 120 billion rupees had already been spent on land acquisition. However, due to delays and unnecessary postponements during the tenure of the previous government, the cost of the project has increased significantly.

Ahsan Iqbal maintained that the responsibility for the increase in the project cost lies with the previous incompetent government, and due to lack of funding and delays, the cost has now increased from 479 billion rupees to 1400 billion rupees.

He said the Diamer Basha Dam will provide storage of 6.4 million acre-feet of water, which is important for the country's agriculture and industry.

Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that engineering and hydrology students from Pakistani universities should be involved in the construction of the dam so that they can benefit from this national project.