PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s water reserves have dropped to alarmingly low levels due to a dry winter, raising concerns over potential shortages in irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.
Major reservoirs—Tarbela, Mangla, and Chashma—have seen significant declines as rainfall and snowfall remained below average. According to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Water levels at Tarbela Dam have dropped to 1,404 feet, just two feet above the critical dead level, leading to the shutdown of nine power generation units.
Electricity output has fallen to 499 megawatts, well below the dam’s full capacity of 4,888 megawatts. Officials cautioned that a continued decline in water levels could further strain the power supply. Inflows into the dam stand at 14,400 cusecs, while outflows have reached 20,000 cusecs.
Authorities said they would regulate water releases if levels continue to drop, as concerns grow over the country’s energy shortfall.Similarly, Tarbela Dam’s water level has dropped to 1,402.99 feet, nearing its dead level of 1,402 feet. The reservoir now holds only 5,000 acre-feet of water.
Mangla Dam has already reached its dead level of 1,050 feet, halting the production of low-cost hydroelectricity. The situation at Chashma is equally concerning, with water storage at a critically low level. Mangla’s total water reserves stand at just 71,000 acre-feet, while Chashma holds 10,000 acre-feet. In the past two days, Chashma’s reserves have declined by 7,000 acre-feet.
Collectively, the three reservoirs now store only 86,000 acre-feet, a sharp decline from 103,000 acre-feet recorded two days ago. This decline in Pakistan’s water reserves is expected to impact agricultural output and drinking water availability.Meanwhile, river inflows have also fallen below normal levels.
At Tarbela, the Indus River is flowing at 18,400 cubic feet per second. The Jhelum River at Mangla registers an inflow of 26,100 cubic feet per second, while Chashma Barrage receives 29,600 cubic feet per second.
The Chenab River at Head Marala has an inflow of 10,800 cubic feet per second, and the Kabul River at Nowshera is flowing at 18,800 cubic feet per second.With Pakistan’s water reserves depleting and river flows declining, experts warn of an impending crisis that could affect irrigation, drinking water supplies, and energy production in the coming months.
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