The World Bank’s independent Inspection Panel will visit Pakistan from November 2 to 10, 2026, to assess complaints concerning land compensation, property devaluation and safety risks associated with the Dasu Hydropower Project’s 765-kilovolt transmission line. The complaints have been submitted by 15 residents of two villages in Punjab who have raised concerns about the impact of the transmission infrastructure on their agricultural land, property values and planned developments. The visit will help the panel determine whether the allegations meet the requirements for a formal investigation.
The complaint, submitted on July 24, relates to the World Bank-financed transmission component of the Dasu Hydropower Stage-I Project. The World Bank approved an additional $700 million in financing for the project in April 2020. Residents of Tanda village in Gujrat District say that the transmission line passes through their ancestral agricultural land and has significantly affected its value and potential future use. According to the complainants, restrictions associated with the project have reduced the development possibilities of properties located within the transmission corridor.
One of the major concerns raised by residents relates to restrictions within the transmission line’s right-of-way corridor. The complainants claim that construction is prohibited in the affected area and that tree height is restricted to 2.5 metres. They estimate that these limitations have reduced the value of their land by approximately 80%. Residents also say the restrictions have disrupted plans to construct residential properties and establish a dairy farm, affecting their intended use of the land and potential sources of income.
The complaint also challenges the adequacy of compensation offered for affected properties. Residents argue that the payments do not sufficiently reflect the impact of the transmission infrastructure and the restrictions placed on land use. In addition to financial concerns, the submission raises questions about the safety of children and nearby communities living close to the high-voltage line. The complainants have also alleged shortcomings in public consultations and the disclosure of the project’s Resettlement Action Plan, which outlines measures for addressing the effects of project-related displacement and land acquisition.
The Inspection Panel registered the complaint on September 11 after conducting initial consultations with the complainants on August 21 and World Bank Management on August 26. The upcoming visit is part of the panel’s eligibility assessment process. During this stage, the panel will review the allegations, consult relevant stakeholders and consider the available information before deciding whether the matter warrants a full investigation. Registration of a complaint does not automatically mean that a formal investigation will follow.
The World Bank’s Country Director for Pakistan, Bolormaa Amgaabazar, requested a meeting with the Ministry of Energy’s Power Division for November 5 through a letter dated October 27. The purpose is to obtain the government’s position on the concerns raised by residents. The delegation will be led by Inspection Panel Chairperson Ibrahim James Pam, accompanied by Senior Policy Officer Serge Selwan, Research Analyst Dion Lorenz Romano and Safeguards Analyst Margaret Seijo Scotti. Meetings are also planned with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the National Grid Company and other relevant authorities and project stakeholders.
The complainants have not requested confidentiality in relation to their submission. However, they have expressed concerns about possible retaliation following the filing of the complaint. These concerns form part of the wider issues the panel will need to consider while reviewing the circumstances surrounding the project and the residents’ allegations.
The transmission infrastructure involves the construction of a 255-kilometre, 765-kilovolt high-voltage alternating current line connecting Dasu Hydropower Stage-I with the Islamabad West Substation. The project also includes a substation at Mansehra. The transmission system is intended to carry electricity generated by the first stage of the Dasu hydropower facility, which has a planned generation capacity of 2,160 megawatts on the Indus River. The line is therefore an important part of the infrastructure required to connect the planned hydropower generation capacity with the national electricity network.
The Inspection Panel operates independently of World Bank Management and reports to the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors. Its role is to examine allegations of potential harm associated with projects financed by the institution, rather than investigate governments or their agencies. Following the Pakistan visit and its review of evidence and stakeholder consultations, the panel will make a recommendation on whether a formal investigation should proceed. The World Bank has clarified that neither the registration of the complaint nor the scheduled assessment amounts to approval for a full investigation. The next stage will depend on the panel’s findings and the decision taken through the established review process.
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