Role of Dams in Pakistan
Dams are physical barriers that help limit or slow down the flow of subsurface or surface water. These reservoirs also serve other purposes, such as drinking water supply, flood control, fish farming, industrial uses, and irrigation purposes. They are also a significant source of electricity generation.
Pakistan is an agricultural country that depends on water resources for irrigation purposes. There are almost 150 dams in different provinces, which are the major sources of water and electricity supply in the country. People also go for picnics in the area surrounding these dams to spend quality time with their friends and family members.
This guide includes a comprehensive list of dams located in different cities and provinces of Pakistan.
A Comprehensive List of Dams in Pakistan
There are various large and small dams located across all the provinces of Pakistan, which include:
Darawat Dam
Darawat Dam is located in the Jamshoro District of Sindh and was constructed in 2013 on the Nai Bran River. This dam has a water storage capacity of 150 million cubic metres and supplies water for crop irrigation in the local area. Moreover, it is also one of the attractive tourist spots where people from Hyderabad and Karachi go for picnics.
Diamer Bhasha Dam
Diamer Bhasha Dam is under construction, with its significant part situated in the Koshistan District, KPK and a small portion present in Diamer, Gilgit Baltistan. It is being constructed on the River Indus and has 8 MAF storage capacity and 12 turbines which can generate almost 4,800MW of electricity.
Gomal Zam Dam
Gomal Zam Dam, built in 2011, is located in the South Waziristan Agency of FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). Water from the Gomal River, a tributary of the Indus River, enters the dam. The dam supplies water to control floods, fulfil irrigation purposes, and generate hydroelectric power. It has a water storage capacity of 1,140,000 acre-feet and generates 17.4MW of electricity.
Gulpur Dam
Gulpur Dam was built in 2020 and is a hydroelectric project located on the Poonch River near Gulpur, a wide side stream that flows from the Jhelum River. This dam can generate 100MW of electricity. Moreover, it is a popular tourist destination where people can go to visit and picnic, as there are different spots for eating, fishing, and swimming.
Hub Dam
Hub Dam is a small dam on the Hub River in Karachi, Sindh, and Lasbela, Balochistan. It was constructed in 1981 and has a water storage capacity of 857,000 acre-feet.
Khanpur Dam
Khanpur Dam is constructed on River Haro in tehsil Khanpur, district Haripur in KPK for supplying drinking water to Islamabad. It also provides water to fulfil irrigation purposes in Attock, Haripur, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. This dam has a water storage capacity of 79,980 acre-feet. It is a famous picnic spot for the people living in local areas, and they visit the dam during the hot days of summer. Moreover, tourists also visit this dam for camping, cliff jumping, jet skiing, and kayaking.
Kurram Tangi Dam
Kurram Tangi Dam is being built on the Kaitu River in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and is regarded as one of the largest dams in Pakistan. This dam will be a major source of irrigation water and has a power-generating capacity of 83.4MW, making a significant contribution to regional development and local resource utilization. Moreover, it will be an attractive spot for visitors and tourists, and the hospitality industry will also bolster in the region.
Mangla Dam
Mangla Dam has historical significance and is one of the most essential players in the international treaty named the Indus Water Treaty between Pakistan and India. This dam, constructed on the River Jhelum, is regarded as the 12th largest dam in the world. It has a storage capacity of 7.39 MAF and 10 turbines and generates 1,310MW of electricity that is supplied to the surrounding areas.
Mirani Dam
Mirani Dam is on the Dasgt River, located South of the Central Makran Range in the Kech district of Balochistan. It was constructed in 2006 and has a 302,000-acre-feet water storage capacity. WAPDA commissioned it to provide water to Gawadar City and fulfil crop cultivation purposes. It also acts as a facility to store water during floods and the summer season. It also supplies clean drinking water to Gawadar and Turbat for the whole year.
Mohmand Dam
Mohmand Dam is under construction on the River Swat in the Mohmand District of KPK. It has a storage capacity of 1.29 MAF and will contribute to fulfilling the land irrigation and electricity generation demand of the surrounding areas. One of the primary purposes of building this dam is to control the flood water efficiently.
Namal Dam
Namal Dam is located in Mianwali, Punjab, at the edge of Namal Valley. It is an old Pakistani dam whose construction was completed in 1913. This dam supplies water to irrigate the land and fulfil the agricultural purposes of the area. It is also an important hub for migratory birds, which has made it an attractive point for birdwatchers.
Neelum Jhelum Dam
Neelum Jhelum Dam is a hydroelectric power project located in Azad Kashmir. It is designed to direct water from the Neelum River to the Jhelum River. The dam has been operating since 2018 and produces 1040MW of electricity.
Rawal Dam
Rawal Dam is located in Islamabad and was built in 1962 to supply water to Pakistan’s twin cities, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This dam has a storage capacity of 42,000 acre-feet. It is also a popular visiting place and picnic spot with different recreational activities, like boating, fishing, horseback riding, etc., for people in Islamabad.
Sabakzai Dam
Sabakzai Dam is located on the Zhob River in the province of Balochistan and directs the water flow towards the Southwest region. It was completed in 2007 and supplies water to fulfil the local area’s irrigation demands. This dam is also one of the popular tourist spots in the province of Balochistan.
Satpara Dam
Satpara Dam is a medium-sized dam located on the Satpara Stream that is 4km away from Skardu in Gilgit Baltistan, and its construction was completed in 2011. It generates and supplies 17.36MW of hydroelectricity for the surrounding areas and also provides water for drinking and irrigation purposes to Skardu City.
Tarbela Dam
Tarbela Dam is located near Swabi and is considered one of the largest earth-filled dams in the world. It is constructed on the River Indus to store water for irrigation and generate electricity. This dam was built in 1976, has a storage capacity of 11.1MAF, and generates 4,888MW electricity with the help of its 17 powerful water turbines.
Warsak Dam
Warsak Dam is built by Pakistan and Canada in the Peshawar valley on the Kabul River. The installed capacity of this hydropower project is 243MW, and with the collaboration of WAPDA, its total power generation capacity was raised to 525MW to fulfil the increasing demands of people.
