Stakeholders blamed for Tarbela-5 cofferdam collapse

An inquiry committee has found that the cofferdam collapse at the Tarbela-5 Extension Hydropower Project was due to unauthorized design changes made post-contract by all key stakeholders: the contractor, consultant, and employer (Wapda). This incident has caused a two-year delay and a staggering 285% increase in the project's cost, ballooning from Rs82 billion to Rs317 billion. The ramifications of this disaster highlight the critical need for stringent oversight and adherence to contract terms in large infrastructure projects.