Pakistan with its varied topography and powerful rivers has more than 150 dams. These dams are used for multiple reasons like water reservoir, flood control, irrigation, hydro-electric power production and tourism as well. The multipurpose dams from Tarbela which is the world’s largest earth filled dam with 48.5 MAF storage capacity to giants like Gomal Zam are key to Pakistan’s sustainability and energy requirements.
A detailed information regarding the famous dams of Pakistan with respect to their features, locations and contributions is given as below.
1. Tarbela Dam
Tarbela Dam is also the largest earth filled dam in the world and one of most significant infrastructure projects in Pakistan. The dam has a very high storage reservoir capacity and this dam serves a major role in the electric generation.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Indus River, Haripur, KPK |
| Type | Earth filled dam |
| Construction Period | 1968 – 1976 |
| Height | 470 ft (143.26 m) |
| Length | 9,000 ft (2,743.2 m) |
| Capacity | 13.69 cubic km |
| Purpose | Power, irrigation, flood control |
| Cost | $1.497 billion |
2. Mangla Dam
Mangla dam is Pakistan’s second largest dam and world’s 9th largest dam. This dam is built on the Jhelum River in Kashmir and has been crucial in the regulation of waters and the generation of energy.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Mirpur, AJK |
| River | Jhelum River |
| Height | 482 ft (147 m) |
| Length | 10,302 ft (3,140 m) |
| Built Year | 1967 |
| Cost | $1.473 billion (World Bank-funded) |
| Purpose | Hydropower, irrigation |
3. Warsak Dam
Warsak Dam is a multipurpose dam located in Pakistan near Peshawar on the Kabul river. It is contributing to the hydropower capacity of the country.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Near Peshawar, KPK |
| River | Kabul River |
| Built | 1960 (Phase I), 1981 (Phase II) |
| Height | 250 ft (76.2 m) |
| Length | 460 ft (140.2 m) |
| Cost | Rs. 156 million |
| Power Capacity | 243 MW |
4. Mirani Dam
Mirani Dam is located in Balochistan and was designed primarily for flood protection and water storage.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Dasht River, Balochistan |
| Built Year | 2002 – 2006 |
| Height | 127 ft (39 m) |
| Length | 3,350 ft (1,020 m) |
| Cost | Rs. 5.26 billion |
| Flood Storage | 588,690 cubic hectometers |
| Purpose | Flood protection, water storage |
5. Khanpur Dam
Khanpur Dam is located close to Islamabad and it not only supplies drinking water but is also a major tourist attraction.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Khanpur, KPK |
| River | Haro River |
| Built | 1983 |
| Height | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Storage Capacity | 140 million m³ |
| Cost | Rs. 1.35 billion |
| Purpose | Drinking water, recreation |
6. Satpara Dam
Satpara Dam is located near Skardu and based on the beautiful Satpara Lake. It is essential for power and water supply in the region.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Built | 2003 – 2011 (phased) |
| Power Capacity | 17.36 MW |
| Water Supply | 3.1 million gallons/day |
| Supported by | USAID & Govt. of Pakistan |
| Purpose | Power, water supply |
7. Gomal Zam Dam
Gomal Zam dam is a multi purpose RCC dam in South Waziristan,
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | South Waziristan, FATA |
| River | Gomal River |
| Height | 437 ft (133 m) |
| Power Capacity | 17.4 MW |
| Completed | 2011 |
| Purpose | Irrigation, hydropower, flood control |
8. Hub Dam
Hub Dam is a critical source of drinking water for Karachi and also a major recreational site.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Hub River, Balochistan-Sindh |
| Distance from Karachi | 56 km |
| Storage Capacity | 85,700 acre-feet |
| Declared Wildlife Area | 1974 |
| Ramsar Site | 2001 |
| Purpose | Drinking water, wildlife, tourism |
9. Diamer Bhasha Dam
Diamer Bhasha Dam is currently under construction and expected to become the tallest RCC dam in the world.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Gilgit-Baltistan, Indus River |
| Laid Foundation | 2011 |
| Height | 272 m |
| Power Capacity | 4,500 MW |
| Storage Capacity | 8.1 million acre-feet |
| Status | Under Construction |
10. Gulpur Hydropower Plant
Gulpur is a run of river project in Azad Kashmir. It is designed for cost efficient energy generation.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Poonch River, AJK |
| Power Capacity | 100 MW |
| Annual Generation | 465 GWh |
| Contractor | MIRA Power Ltd (KOSEP) |
| Status | Operational |
11. Kalabagh Dam
Kalabagh Dam is perhaps the most debated proposed dam in Pakistan’s history. If built, it would solve major water and power issues.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Kalabagh, Punjab |
| River | Indus River |
| Proposed Capacity | 3,600 MW |
| Purpose | Power, irrigation |
| Status | Proposed (Controversial) |
12. Neelum–Jhelum Hydropower Plant
The Neelum Jhelum project is a technical marvel that diverts water via tunnels to generate massive electricity.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Azad Kashmir |
| Built | 2008 – 2018 |
| Power Capacity | 969 MW |
| Cost | Rs. 500+ billion |
| Annual Output | 5,150 GWh |
| Purpose | Hydropower |
