China has said that it is accelerating the construction of the Mohmand dam in Pakistan in response to the recent threats of India to cut water supplies, according to a report published on the Chinese South website Morning Post.
The dam, located in the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, has been described as a “flagship” project by the Pakistani authorities and is a key component of the Chinese-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the Belt and Road de Beijing initiative.
According to a report by the Chinese state station CCTV, the concrete filling in the Mohmand dam has begun a “critical construction milestone” that indicates an accelerated development phase.
The dam, under construction by the China Energy Engineering Corporation of state property since 2019, was initially scheduled for its completion in 2026.
Acceleration occurs after high tensions between India and Pakistan. According to the reports, New Delhi has suspended the Indo Treaty of the Indo of the World Bank in response to the Incident of Pahalgam. In retaliation or response, China seems to be doubling the support of strategic infrastructure to Islamabad.
The Mohmand hydroelectric project is designed to be a multipurpose installation, appropriate with flood control, irrigation, energy generation and water supply.
Once completed, it is expected to generate 800 MW of electricity and provide 300 million gallons per day of drinking water to the city of Peshawar.
Beyond Mohmand, China and Pakistan are also intensifying cooperation in several sectors. These include industrial development, agriculture and public welfare projects. Another important bilateral company, the Diamer-Bhasha dam, nicknamed the “Pakistan Three Gorges Project” also continues to be a focal point of collaboration.
The Chinese announcement to accelerate the Mohmand dam underlines the growing geopolitical maneuver in the region, with the safety of water emerging as a new axis of strategic influence.
