Bids were submitted on 22 August for an estimated Rs 550 million ($17.7 million) tunnelling and river diversion contract in the Swabi area of North West Frontier Province.

Ten international companies priced the Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA) job, which is part of the Swabi Scarp project. They include China's Geo Engineering Corporation, China National (Complant), South Korea's Hanbo Steel & General Construction Company and a joint venture of the local Zookhan and China Liaoning International.

A contract award is expected by March 1995. The project includes the construction of a 6.4-kilometre tunnel, repair of an existing tunnel and various river diversion works. The completion period is 4 years. Financing has been provided by the Asian Development Bank, the Swiss Development Corporation and the government.