Travel to see these 150 Dams in Pakistan
Water Storage Dams in Gilgit Baltistan
Gilgit Baltistan is the only place in water scarce Pakistan where you see free flowing sweet water, all year round – and we have only one Dam there. How sensible!
- Also, see Rainwater harvesting in Pakistan.
| List of Dams | Location | General Comments regarding travel and recreation |
|---|---|---|
| Satpara Dam | Skardu | Satpara lake used to be emerald green two decades back from the Global warming was not melting glaciers that fast. |
| Diamer Bhasha Dam | Bhasha | Diamer Bhasha Dam formal construction has not started yet |
| Harpo Dam | Skardu | The construction not started yet. |
Dams in Balochistan
Water Storage Dams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province has its own high mountains to feed its plains.
Dams in Azad Kashmir
The Government has finally found someone to invest in Dams in Azad Kashmir Pakistan – China.
All of these Dams are beautiful to see.
Also, see
- Banjosa Dam Lake Rawalakot Azad Kashmir.
- Rainbow Dam Lake Minmarg Azad Kashmir.
Dams in Sindh
| List of Dams | Location | General Comments regarding travel and recreation |
|---|---|---|
| Kotri Dam | Jamshoro | Kotri Barrage is the last stop of Pakistan’s only river Indus, before sweet water falls into the Arabian Sea. |
| Darawat Dam | Jamshoro | |
| Chotari Dam | Sanghar | |
| Nai Ganj Dam | Kirthar | |
| Guddu Barrage | Kashmore | Always overflowing in flood season, this is a nice place to enjoy the sunset |
| Fifty Small Dams in Sindh are Ranpur, Mulji, Bhodesar, Khararo, Tobirio, Lakhy-jo-Wandio, Salari, Makhi, Ranikot, Bandhani-1, Taki, Maliri, Mohan, Ashoro Kuch, Suku, Koteri, Thado-2, Langheji, Nai-Mango, Kalu-1, Jharando, Sari, Malir Memon Goth Weir, Kataro, Meer Chakar, Mole Nadi, German Dhoro, Ranpathani, Naryasar, Ghartiari, Gordhro Bhatiani, Jhinjsar, Lakar Khadio, Khuwara Nagarparkar, Shori, Kukrani, Bandhani-2, Khurbi, Ding Dhoro, Buri Kohistan-1 Dadu, Mullan, Bazkhando, Gaddap, Khand Dhoro, Ullar-Rahuja, Upper Mole, German Dhoro, Ranpathani, Liyari and Watan Wari |
Water Storage Dams in Punjab
Punjab, just 1000 years back was very full of 5 raging rivers and vast green forests that invaders from the West like Timur feared this water the most and probably stopped Alexander of Macedon too from Invading India.
Now, Punjab is water-starved.
General Knowledge about Dams in Pakistan
Although International Commission on Large Dam counts 150 dams in Pakistan that are more than 49 feet in height, I could only compile a list of 130.
India and China have several thousand dams and are building more every year.
Maybe the others have still not kicked off yet.
Download your Dams in Pakistan Map in PDF.
Download Pakistan political map in PDF
Why are Dams important for Pakistan?
Pakistan’s Glaciers are melting at a rapid pace and Pakistan has only 30-day water storage capacity. India’s water storage capacity is 120 days and USA’s is 900 days.
Number of Dams in China
There are 28900 large Dams in China
Number of Dams in India
There are 5300 large Dams in India, a lot of them on waters that have been irrigating Indus Valley in Pakistan for millenniums.
Interesting facts about Dams in Pakistan
- Pakistan has the largest earth-filled Dam in the world located at Tarbela, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and,
- The largest flood water protection dam in the world at Mirani, Baluchistan.
- Mangla Dam is the oldest Dam in Pakistan, built in the 1960s.
- Warsak is the smallest of these large Dams, although many rain-fed dams are even smaller in size.
- Pakistan has all sorts of hydroelectric dams, both run-off-the-river and reservoir fed ones.
- Pakistan has 19 barrages that store some water.
Then, there are some Irrigation barrages and headworks that store quite some water to generate electricity.
Which is the largest source of electricity in Pakistan?
Fossil fuels are the largest source of electricity – which is a disaster for any economy.
- Furnace oil – 16% (imports)
- LNG – (26%) (imports)
- Natural Gas – 12%
- Coal – 9% (imports)
- Hydel – 27%
- Renewable Solar and Wind – 5%
- Nuclear – 5%
What happened to the Chief Justice Dam fund?
Large Dams are not built by Chanda or Crowd Funding by Chief Justices – it involves sophisticated financial dealings by experts in finance and engineering – both of which Pakistan does not have.
As you can see, Pakistan has quite a few water storage spots where people can have a good time bathing, boating and enjoying recreational sports.
Conclusion
The Pakistani government should allow free access to visitors to all power stations, Dams and Barrages right at the entrance. This way people will develop tourism business ideas and the government will collect more taxes. After all, these are people’s assets, not of public servants.
Pakistan is endowed with breathtaking landscapes, magnificent deserts, and a plethora of natural resources. Pakistan is mostly an agricultural country that relies significantly on water resources for agriculture. Surprisingly, Pakistan has over 150 dams spanning all regions. These large dams not only provide energy and water, but they also serve as ideal holiday locations for people. The majority of dams were built between 1960 and 1975. Pakistan is fortunate to be the owner of the world’s largest earth-filled dam, the Tarbela dam.
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