The depreciation of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar has increased the estimated expenses of two major hydropower projects by a combined Rs1.896 trillion.
The Ministry of Water Resources attributed the rise in the Diamer-Bhasha Dam cost to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. Construction costs for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam rose by Rs642 billion, moving from an initial Rs479 billion to Rs1.121 trillion.
The Dasu Hydropower Project saw a cost surge of Rs1.254 trillion, representing a 260% increase from the original estimate of Rs486 billion to Rs1.740 trillion. Industrial material prices have also spiked, with a bag of cement rising 204% from Rs530 to Rs1,610. High-speed diesel prices climbed 472% from Rs72 to Rs414 per litre.
Steel and iron bars increased by 268%, reaching Rs265,000 per metric tonne from Rs72,000. Shaista Khan, Parliamentary Secretary for National Food Security and Research, stated that letters have been sent to provinces and relevant institutions to distribute available wheat stocks following the dissolution of the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO).
Khan said PASSCO declined due to administrative and financial issues, noting that some provinces failed to pay bills and dues on time. Khan said wheat is currently being supplied to Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, and other concerned areas. Khan confirmed that imported stocks have reached warehouses to meet requirements.
Khan said a digital system featuring a dashboard has been introduced to monitor the movement, delivery details, and provincial supply of wheat. The government intends to link relevant companies with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to properly involve the private sector, Khan said.
Khan said a system is being devised to hold private companies accountable and ensure the wheat distribution process remains effective. The National Assembly passed four government bills by majority vote on Friday. Legislators approved the Higher Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the National Textile University (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
