ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has accelerated work on four major dam projects that will add more than eight million acre-feet (MAF) of water storage capacity, state media reported, as the country seeks to strengthen water security in the face of growing climate challenges.
The projects include the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam and Nai Gaj Dam. Together, they are expected to improve water availability, reduce flood risks and increase hydropower generation.
According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the four projects under construction will provide a combined live storage capacity of 8.136 MAF.
The Diamer-Bhasha Dam will contribute 6.4 MAF of storage capacity, while Mohmand Dam will add 0.676 MAF. Kurram Tangi Dam and Nai Gaj Dam will provide 0.90 MAF and 0.16 MAF, respectively.
Pakistan faces increasing pressure on its water resources due to erratic weather patterns, recurring droughts and the rapid melting of glaciers linked to climate change. Officials have repeatedly warned that the widening gap between water supply and demand makes new storage infrastructure a national priority.
APP reported that the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has designated the current period as the “Decade of Dams” and is fast-tracking major projects to improve long-term water security.
Pakistan’s existing major reservoirs include Tarbela Dam, with a live storage capacity of 5.58 MAF, Mangla Dam with 7.277 MAF and Chashma Barrage with 0.311 MAF.
The report said several additional reservoir projects with a combined storage capacity of 15.88 MAF are currently in the planning and design phase. These include Sindh Barrage, Shyok Dam, Akhori Dam, Chiniot Dam and Murunj Dam.
WAPDA has also expanded its hydro-meteorological monitoring and telemetry network to provide real-time information on river flows, reservoir levels, rainfall and transboundary water systems.
In April, the government said Pakistan’s water storage capacity was equivalent to about 90 days of national demand and announced plans to convene a high-level task force to address growing water security concerns.
Also Read: WAPDA plans to build four dams on the Chenab River
Last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for the urgent construction of dams and reservoirs after flooding caused extensive damage across Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province.
