The collapse of the Tarbela-5 Extension Hydropower Project's cofferdam has caused significant delays and a massive cost escalation, with stakeholders including Wapda, the contractor, and consultant facing blame.

The incident, attributed to unauthorized design changes and contractual violations, has increased project costs from Rs82 billion to Rs317 billion, pushing completion to end-June 2028 instead of 2026.

An independent inquiry committee highlighted that the contractor's proposal for a weaker rock-filled structure, approved without proper technical checks, led to structural failure.The collapse has also raised concerns about project management and accountability in large-scale infrastructure ventures.The report underscores the need for stricter oversight to prevent similar issues in future projects.