ISLAMABAD (APP) - Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf Monday said that all resources would be utilized for the timely completion of Diamer-Basha dam project to generate clean and cheaper electricity in the country. He said this while presiding over a meeting to review the progress of Diamer-Basha dam project. Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas and Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan also participated in the meeting. Ashraf informed the participants that the project is on schedule and will be completed within the prescribed time frame in 2016. He said the generation of 4,500 MW cheap hydel power from Diamer-Basha dam would reduce the dependence on thermal power resulting saving of huge foreign exchange and make available 6.4 MAF of water for irrigation. He said the project would create massive infrastructure and job opportunities leading to an overall socio-economic uplift of the area. The Minister directed the Wapda authorities to follow the schedule to ensure timely completion of such a project of national importance. Kaira said the govt was giving priority to all such mega projects and every effort was being made to make the funds available for this important and national project. He asked Wapda to swiftly undertake the resettlement plan for the affectees of the dam in Northern Areas and NWFP. Earlier, the Chairman Wapda briefed the meeting on the progress of the project and said the ECNEC had approved the project for land acquisition and resettlement of the dam at a cost of about Rs 60 billion. He said the Diamer-Basha dam will be the highest roller compacted concrete dam in the world having a height of 272 meters. He added 323 KM of Karakoram Highway from Havelian to dam would be upgraded by National Highway Authority (NHA) for transportation of heavy machinery and equipment. He said design and feasibility study has been completed while the tenders have been invited for construction of the project. He said a very positive response from international financing institutions have been received for the project financing.