List Of Dams And Reservoirs In PakistanEdit
Pakistan’s network of dams and reservoirs sits at the core of the country’s approach to energy, irrigation, and flood management. The Indus Basin, formed by the Indus River and its tributaries, supports a large share of Pakistan’s agriculture and power generation. Since the mid-20th century, Pakistan has pursued a mix of large multipurpose dams and smaller projects to store water, generate electricity, and protect downstream communities from floods. The Indus Waters Treaty with India frames much of this activity, establishing how water is shared and how cross-border dam projects are coordinated. The state role in building, financing, and operating these structures is historically tied to WAPDA and allied agencies, with ongoing debates about cost, risk, and environmental impact shaping decisions about new facilities.
This article lists notable dams and reservoirs in Pakistan, organized by river systems and region. It also highlights some of the controversies and policy debates that accompany large-scale water and power projects, giving a sense of the trade-offs that come with multiplying storage and generation capacity.
Major dams and reservoirs
Indus River system
- Tarbela Dam: Located on the Indus River near Tarbela, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tarbela is one of the oldest and most significant multi-purpose dam projects in the country, integral to both hydroelectric power generation and flood management.
- Mangla Dam: Built on the Jhelum River near Mangla in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Mangla formed a large reservoir that supports irrigation and power production; the project was expanded in the late 20th and early 21st centuries to increase storage.
- Diamer–Bhasha Dam: A major Indus River project intended to provide substantial new storage capacity and power generation; its development status has included long planning and construction phases, reflecting considerations of cost, security, and regional demand.
- Neelum–Jhelum Hydroelectric Project: On the Neelum River near Muzaffarabad, this project connects the Neelum and Jhelum basins to add significant hydroelectric capacity in the north.
- Dasu Hydropower Project: On the Indus River near Dasu, this project has been pursued in stages to expand generation capacity and improve grid reliability in northern Pakistan.
- Satpara Dam: Located near Skardu, this dam and its reservoir support local water supply, irrigation, and power generation in Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Kohala Dam (proposed): A proposed project on the Jhelum River intended to add substantial capacity in the Muzaffarabad area, reflecting ongoing ambitions for regional hydropower.
Kabul River system
- Warsak Dam: On the Kabul River near Peshawar, this historic hydroelectric project has long supplied a portion of the region’s electricity and contributed to regional water management strategies.
Gomal River system
- Gomal Zam Dam: On the Gomal River in the Dera Ismail Khan region, this project represents an important southern Pakistan example of multipurpose dam development, contributing to irrigation and power supply in that area.
Kurram River system
- Kurram Tangi Dam: On the Kurram River in the country’s northeast, this project reflects continued efforts to broaden hydroelectric capacity and regional water security.
Other significant structures
- Hub Dam: On the Hub River, serving the arid-urban area around Karachi with a combination of water storage, flood mitigation, and local power generation.
Note: Many dam projects in Pakistan are described in official planning documents as multipurpose, serving a blend of irrigation, drinking water supply, flood control, and electricity generation. The exact status and capacities of some projects can evolve with new engineering assessments, funding decisions, and security considerations.
Controversies and debates
Energy security versus environmental and social costs: Proponents argue that large dams deliver reliable, low-cost electricity and improved irrigation in a country with growing demand. Critics point to risks of cost overruns, long construction timelines, sedimentation that reduces reservoir capacity, and the displacement of communities. The debate often centers on whether a given dam’s long-run benefits justify its environmental and social costs.
Displacement and regional impacts: Large reservoirs can require significant resettlement of people, changes to local ecosystems, and alterations to livelihoods. Supporters emphasize compensation and development programs, while opponents raise concerns about adequacy and consent.
Transboundary and regional politics: The Indus Waters Treaty framework shapes what Pakistan can plan on the eastern rivers, with cross-border issues affecting project timelines and feasibility. Critics of certain planning choices argue that regional diplomacy and strategic considerations should drive water infrastructure, while supporters contend that domestic energy and irrigation needs justify accelerated development within treaty parameters.
Financing and debt risk: Large dam projects entail substantial capital expenditures and long lifespans. Debates often focus on whether financing terms, cost recovery, and risk allocation are structured to avoid undue burden on taxpayers and electricity consumers, and whether alternative energy and water-management options (like decentralized hydro, solar, wind, or irrigation efficiency programs) could achieve similar goals with lower risk.
Adaptive management and sedimentation: A recurring technical challenge is sediment buildup in reservoirs, which reduces storage and power capacity over time. Advocates for ongoing sediment management argue for investment in dredging, sediment bypass, and reservoir management, while critics worry about the financial and logistical feasibility of such measures at scale.