Dams are essential to Pakistan’s infrastructure, providing millions of people with water, electricity, and flood control. But how much do you know how many dams are in Pakistan and their history, benefits, and challenges? In this blog post, we will explore some of the most famous dams, like Mangla Dam and Tarbela Dam in Pakistan, and some under-construction and proposed dams that could shape the country’s future. Whether you’re interested in engineering, environment, or tourism, you’ll find something to learn and enjoy in this post. So let’s dive into the world of dams in Pakistan and discover how they have transformed the landscape and the lives of the people.
Important Facts about Dams in Pakistan
Some important facts about dams in Pakistan are:
- Pakistan has a total of 150 dams and reservoirs over 15 m in height, according to the International Commission on Large Dams.
- Tarbela Dam is the largest dam in Pakistan by structural volume and the largest earth-filled dam in the world. It is located on the Indus River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and was completed in 1976.
- Pakistan’s second-largest dam by structural volume is Mangla Dam, which is also the ninth-largest dam in the world. It is situated on the Jhelum River in Azad Kashmir and was completed in 1967.
- Mirani Dam is the largest dam in Pakistan by volume for flood protection, which is also the largest dam in the world for this purpose. It is located on the Dasht River in Balochistan and was completed in 2006.
- Pakistan’s highest dam by the height is Diamer-Bhasha Dam, which is under construction on the Indus River in Gilgit-Baltistan. It is expected to be completed by 2028 and will be the world’s highest roller-compacted concrete dam. It will generate 4,500 MW of hydroelectric power and store 8,500,000 acre-feet of water for irrigation and drinking purposes.
- Pakistan’s longest dam by crest length is Warsak Dam, which is a mass concrete gravity dam that was built on the Kabul River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was completed in 1960 and has a power station that generates 243 MW of hydroelectric power. It also provides irrigation water for about 110,000 acres of land.
- Pakistan’s first dam by completion date is Sukkur Barrage, a barrage constructed on the Indus River near Sukkur in Sindh. It was completed in 1932 and has a storage capacity of 1,400,000 acre-feet water. It provides irrigation water for about 8 million acres of land and controls floods.
Popular Dams in Pakistan
Tarbela Dam in Pakistan
This is the largest earth-filled dam in the world and the second largest by structural volume. It is located on the Indus River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was completed in 1976. It provides irrigation, hydroelectric power, and water supply for millions of people.
Mangla Dam in Pakistan
This is the second-largest dam in Pakistan and the ninth-largest in the world. It is situated on the Jhelum River in Azad Kashmir and was completed in 1967. It also serves multiple purposes: irrigation, hydroelectric power, and water supply1.
Mirani Dam in Pakistan
This is the largest dam in the world in terms of volume for flood protection. It is located on the Dasht River in Balochistan and was completed in 2006. It provides irrigation water for about 33,200 acres of land and also supports fisheries and tourism.
Diamer-Bhasha Dam in Pakistan
This concrete-filled gravity dam is under construction on the Indus River in Gilgit-Baltistan. It is expected to be completed by 2028 and will be the world’s highest roller-compacted concrete dam. It will generate 4,500 MW of hydroelectric power and store 8,500,000 acre-feet of water for irrigation and drinking purposes.
Neelum–Jhelum Dam in Pakistan
This gravity dam in Pakistan was completed in 2018 on the Neelum River in Muzaffarabad District of Azad Kashmir. It has a power station that produces 969 MW of hydroelectric power and also provides water supply for the region.
Warsak Dam in Pakistan
This mass concrete gravity dam was built on the Kabul River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was completed in 1960 and has a power station that generates 243 MW of hydroelectric power. It also provides irrigation water for about 110,000 acres of land.
Hub Dam in Pakistan
This embankment dam was constructed on the Hub River in Balochistan. It was completed in 1981 and has a storage capacity of 857,000 acre-feet of water. It provides water supply for Karachi and Lasbela Districts and also supports wildlife and fisheries.
Khanpur Dam in Pakistan
This concrete gravity dam was built on the Haro River near Islamabad. It was completed in 1983 and has a storage capacity of 106,000 acre-feet of water. It provides drinking water for Islamabad and Rawalpindi and also offers recreational facilities such as boating, fishing, and rock climbing and is considered one of the most visited dams in Pakistan. You can also visit Mabali Island here.
Satpara Dam in Pakistan
This concrete-face rock-fill dam was erected on the Satpara Stream near Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan. It was completed in 2012 and has a storage capacity of 93,000 acre-feet of water. It produces 17.36 MW of hydroelectric power and also supplies water for Skardu Town.
Darawat Dam in Pakistan
This embankment dam was constructed on the Baran River near Jamshoro District in Sindh. It was completed in 2014 and has a storage capacity of 121,600 acre-feet of water. It provides irrigation water for about 25,000 acres of land and also promotes tourism and fisheries.
Pakistan is a country blessed with many natural and man-made water resources, including dams. These are some of the popular dams in Pakistan. These dams not only provide irrigation, flood control and hydroelectric power but also create scenic reservoirs and recreational opportunities for the people. Dams in Pakistan are, therefore, vital for the country’s development and prosperity.