POTENTIAL STORAGE SITES IN PAKISTAN

The Indus River basin supplies water to the largest contiguous irrigation system in the
world, providing water for 90% of the food production in Pakistan, which contributes 25% of the
country's gross domestic product. But Pakistan could face severe food shortages intimately linked
to water scarcity. It is projected that, by 2025, the shortfall of water requirements will be 32%,
which will result in a food shortage of 70 million tons. Recent estimates suggest that climate
change and siltation of main reservoirs will reduce the surface water storage capacity by 30% by
2025. The per capita water storage capacity in Pakistan is only 150 m3, compared with more than
5000 m3 in the United States and Australia and 2200 m3 in China. This reduction in surface
supplies and consequent decreases in groundwater abstraction will have a serious effect on
irrigated agriculture. Supply-side solutions aimed at providing more water will not be available
as in the past. Current low productivity in comparison with what has been achieved in other
countries under virtually similar conditions points to the enormous potential that exists. To
harness this potential, Pakistan needs to invest soon in increasing storage capacity, improving
water-use efficiency, and managing surface-water and groundwater resources in a sustainable
way to avoid problems of soil salinization and waterlogging. Building capacity between
individuals and organizations, and strengthening institutions are key elements for sustaining
irrigated agriculture in the Indus Basin.

The construction of dams in Pakistan is imperative, as only two major dams have been
constructed after 1947, whereas, India and Turkey have constructed 24 and 65 dams
respectively during the same period. The sedimentation in reservoirs is increasing drastically
not just scuttled resources for irrigation but also lower energy production which also effects
on industrial sector’s expansion and efficiency of agriculture. The critical issue in water sector
is to resolve the scarcity of water through augmentation and conservation. The augmentation
of water supplies by implementing high priority projects like raising of Mangla Dam,
construction of Gomal Zam Dam, Greater Thal Canal, Rainee Canal, Kachhi Canal, Mirani Dam,
Sat Para Dam, Sabakzai Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, Diamer Basha Dam, Munda Dam and other
medium and small reservoirs. It is estimated that on completion of these projects an area of
3,239,882 acres will be irrigated.
Pakistan, once a water-surplus country, is now a water deficit country. The rainfall is
neither enough nor regular, to meet the growing needs of water. About 70 per cent of the
annual rainfall occurs in the months of July to September. The surface water resources of
Pakistan mainly consist of flows of the Indus River and its tributaries, which bring in about
138 million-acre feet (MAF) of water annually. The Indus River alone provides 65% of the total
river flows, while the share of Jhelum and Chenab is 17 and 19% respectively. The months of
peak-flow are June to August during the monsoon season. The flow during the Kharif
(Summer) is 84% and during Rabi (Winter) season is 16%. The alluvial plains of Pakistan are
blessed with extensive unconfined aquifer, with a potential of over 50 MAF, which is being
exploited to an extent of about 38 MAF by over 562,000 private and 10,000 public tube wells.
In Baluchistan (outside the Indus Basin), out of a total available potential of about 0.9 MAF
of groundwater, over 0.5 MAF are already being utilized, thereby leaving a balance of about
0.4 MAF that can still be utilized, though some aquifers are already over exploited. The
suggested short-term strategies include starting a mass-awareness campaign, propagation of
high-efficiency irrigation systems, changes in cropping-patterns, identification of feasible
surface-water storage sites and dams, and activation of water-user organizations. The
medium-term strategies suggest giving priority to lining of distributaries, minors and
watercourses in saline groundwater areas, construction of small dams and installation of tube
wells in technically feasible areas, improving flood and drought-forecasting methods, and a
much wider application of conjunctive water-use approach and propagation of high-
efficiency irrigation systems. Institutional reforms for better co-ordination and a wider
formulation of a national water-policy are other priority areas under the medium-term
strategic plan. Long-term strategies include formulation of a regulatory framework on
groundwater abstraction, construction of large storage dams, better flood and drought-
forecasting mechanisms and resolving water-distribution problems between provinces.
Water is essential for sustaining quality of life on earth. This finite commodity has a direct
bearing on almost all sectors of economy. In Pakistan its importance is more than ordinary
due to the agrarian nature of the economy. The share of agricultural sector in the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of Pakistan is about 24 %. Since agriculture is the major user of
water, therefore sustainability of agriculture depends on the timely and adequate availability
of water. The increasing pressures of population and industrialization have already placed
greater demands on water, with an ever-increasing number and intensity of local and
regional conflicts over its availability and use. Historically, the high aridity index of the country
is adding further to the significance of water in developmental activities in Pakistan. Though,
once a water-surplus country with huge water-resources of the Indus River System, Pakistan
is now a water-deficit country. At present, the annual per capita water- availability in Pakistan
is about 1,100 cubic meter (m3); below 1,000 m3, countries begin experiencing chronic water
stress (Population Action International, 1993).
Punjab covers the Indus River system as a whole comprising of 5 rivers Indus, Jehlum,
Chenab, Ravi and Sutluj. There is a huge potential of small conservation techniques for the
storage of water to be used further for irrigation supplies a major and hydro potential along
with it. The Punjab Irrigation Department has identified about 62 numbers of small dams
covering about 6 basins namely Soan, Haro, Kanshi, Reshi, Kahan and Bunha basins where
about more than hundreds of sites are identified for small conservative formations. At
present number of studies are under progress by Punjab Irrigation Department as well as
WAPDA to know the exact potential of water storage sites which may practically be
implemented on grounds for efficient use of water in near future.
Sr. River Main Project Cost Capacity Status
No. (MAF)
1 Shyok Shyok 750 B 5.00 Desk Study
2 Gowari - --- Under Study
3 Yugo - 4.82 Reconaisance Service
4 Indus Kharmang - --- Desk Study
5 Sermic - --- Desk Study
6 Skurdu 3500 15.92 Reconaisance Service
7 Satpara - 0.53 In Operation
8 Skardu - --- Desk Study
9 Tangus - --- Desk Study
10 Yalbo - --- Desk Study
11 Bunji 2689 B --- Ready for Implementation
12 Diamer 400 B 6.40 Ready for Implementation
Bhasha
13 Dasu 2712 B 1.15 Ready for Implementation
14 Tarbela - 7.00 In Operation
15 Kalabagh - 6.10 Under Construction
16 Jinnah 225 B --- In Operation
17 Chashma - 0.61 In Operation
18 Chotiar - --- ---
19 Lake - 0.78 ---
20 Kurram Tang - 0.90 Ready for Implementation
21 Gomal Zam - 0.90 Ready for Implementation
22 Taunsa - --- In Operation
23 Mohmand - 0.68 Under Construction
24 Ghazi - --- In Operation
Bharotha
Project
25 Manchar - 0.75 ---
Lake
26 Kinghar Lake - 0.32 ---
27 Nelum Ashkot - --- Under Construction
28 Kundal Shahi - --- Desk Study
29 Dudhnail - --- Under Construction
30 Tithwal - --- Desk Study
31 Sawat Madyan - --- Project Under Construction
32 Asrit Kedam - --- Project Under Construction
33 Munda 1567 B 0.67 Feasibility Study
 34 Kalam Asrit - --- Project Under Construction
35 Mitaltan 110 B --- Project Under Construction
36 Kabul Warsak - --- In Operation
37 Haro` Akhori - 7.60 Desk Study
38 Khanpur - 0.09 In Operation
39 Kunhar Suki Kinari 750 B 0.12 Project Under Construction
40 Kohala 1381 B 0.1 Project Under Construction
41 Jhelum Mahal 273 B --- Project Under Construction
42 Izad Pattan 222 B --- Project Under Construction
43 Nelum 1580 B --- In Operation
Jhelum
44 Karot 240B --- Project Under Construction
45 Mangla - 7.38 In Operation
46 Kanshi Kanshi - --- Under Construction
47 Punch Kotli Project - --- Project Under Construction
48 Gulpar - --- Project Under Construction
49 Rajdhani - --- Project Under Construction
50 Sehra - --- Project Under Construction
51 Kurram Barain Dam - 0.03 In Operation
52 Kurang Rawal Dam - 0.04 In Operation
53 Soan Simli Dam - 0.02 In Operation
54 Pishin B.K.D Khan - 0.04 In Operation
55 Chenab Chiniot Dam - 1.4 Feasibility Study
56 Ravi No storage - - -
site in
Pakistan
57 Sutluj No storage - - -
site in
Pakistan

The PID has further identified the following more sites for small dams construction for
which the studies are under progress: -
NEW POTENTIAL DAM SITES IDENTIFIED IN PUNJAB

S.# Name of Site Tehsil District

1 Mari Jalwal Jand Attock
2 Nara Dam Jand Attock
3 Nalahad Dam Pindi Gheb Attock
 4 Ahmadal Dam Pindi Gheb Attock
5 Potha Dam Dina Jhelum
6 Chotala Dam Jhelum Jhelum
7 Sabral Dam Khushab Khushab
8 Jabba Din Dam Mianwali Mianwali
9 Laiti Dam Talagang Chakwal
10 Dhok Sher Khan Dam Talagang Chakwal
11 Narala Dam Talagang Chakwal
12 Ankur Dam Talagang Chakwal
13 Minhas Chakwal Chakwal
14 Jhangu Dam Chakwal Chakwal
15 Dhok Toor Dam Chakwal Chakwal
16 Ghambir Chakwal Chakwal
17 Sawer Dam Chakwal Chakwal
18 Mundee Dam Chakwal Chakwal

Further the works on projects like Basha Dam, Thal Reservoir Project, Kachhi Canal, CRBC,
GTC, Rainee Canal, Sehwan Barrage are underway by WAPDA. Hence, there are a lot of Sites
for which the potential storage of Pakistan.

From,
Muhammad Qasim Saeed
Chief Engineer Irrigation
Multan Zone, Multan.