The Government of Pakistan has officially prioritized several mega dam projects in Pakistan to build consensus on storage and hydropower infrastructure. This move aims to address the country’s water crisis and climate change threats.
Furthermore, officials stated during a meeting chaired by the Secretary of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) that these reservoirs are essential for national survival. Currently, Pakistan’s storage capacity stands at 13 million acre-feet. As a result, inadequate infrastructure leads to significant annual losses of floodwater.
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Technical Oversight and Regional Challenges
To address these gaps, the government has formed a committee of technical experts. This team will coordinate project funding and work to ensure priority infrastructure completion. During the session, which included Chief Secretaries from all provinces and officials from WAPDA and IRSA, experts discussed regional water dynamics. Specifically, they noted potential interventions by India on the Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus rivers. Moreover, they reviewed the impact of construction projects on the Kabul River by Afghanistan.
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To counter these challenges, the Ministry of Water Resources will now finalize a list of essential mega dam projects in Pakistan. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, these projects must focus on resilient infrastructure. This shift is necessary because melting glaciers and unpredictable rain patterns have affected traditional systems.
Priority Projects: From Diamer Bhasha to Sindh Barrage
WAPDA has recommended a focus on the Chenab River to increase storage. Therefore, the government is prioritizing several sites to expand the portfolio of mega dam projects in Pakistan:
- Punjab: Development of the Chiniot, Wazirabad, Midh Ranjha, and Shah Jewana dams.
- National Scale: Completion of the Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams.
- Sindh & Balochistan: Construction of the Sindh Barrage, alongside the Naulong and Hingol dams.
- Connectivity: Development of the Mangla-Marala Link Canal to improve distribution.
To ensure transparency in water distribution among provinces, the government will install a real-time monitoring system. By adopting models from China and the European Union, authorities hope to build trust between stakeholders regarding these mega dam projects in Pakistan.
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A Roadmap for Awareness
Finally, the IPC Secretariat is preparing a calendar to ensure the participation of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in future talks. The government also plans to launch “National Awareness Seminars” in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta. These events will engage civil society, the media, and academia to discuss the necessity of these mega dam projects in Pakistan.
This effort is designed to support food and energy security. By treating water preservation as a priority, the state aims to reduce delays in decision-making and execution. Ultimately, the completion of these reservoirs is the planned path to a water-secure future.
