The Human Cost of the Madyan Hydropower Project: Power, River and the Torwali Community

The Madyan Hydropower Project, a 207-MW run-of-the-river scheme planned on the Swat River in upper Swat, is part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s expanding energy program supported by international financing. While presented as a clean energy initiative, the project has raised serious concerns among local communities regarding its environmental, social and cultural impact.

The diversion of the river through a long tunnel, large-scale construction along the valley and acquisition of land in and around Bahrain are expected to affect settlements, forests, natural springs and traditional sources of livelihood. For the Indigenous Torwali community, whose cultural life and local economy are closely connected with the Swat River, these changes are seen not only as environmental disruption but also as a threat to their social and cultural continuity.

In response, local residents have organized under the Darya-e Swat Bachao Tehreek (Save Swat River Movement), calling for greater transparency, environmental responsibility and meaningful consultation with affected communities, including the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

In this talk, Zubair Torwali will discuss the potential impacts of the project, the concerns of the Torwali people, and the broader questions it raises about development, environment and the rights of Indigenous communities in Pakistan.

About the Guest Speaker:

Zubair Torwali is a writer, researcher and community activist from Bahrain, Swat and a prominent voice for the Torwali Indigenous community of northern Pakistan. He has been actively engaged in efforts to preserve the Torwali language, culture and heritage, and has worked extensively on issues related to Indigenous rights, environmental protection and sustainable development in the Swat Valley.

He is among the leading members of the Darya-e Swat Bachao Tehreek (Save Swat River Movement), a community initiative advocating for the protection of the Swat River and the rights of local populations affected by large development projects. His work focuses on raising awareness about the social, cultural and ecological impact of such projects and promoting dialogue on development that respects both nature and local communities.

This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.

The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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