Pakistan has rich resources and breathtaking scenery, including mountains, rivers, deserts, and more. If you find yourself in Pakistan, you must see one of the country’s many beautiful dams. Dams are built primarily to prevent flooding, store water for later use, generate hydropower, and better the quality of life for residents. Dams are typically built on waterways like rivers and streams. Most of Pakistan’s dams may be found in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Almost all of these dams were built between 1960 and 1975. There are about 150 dams spread out across Pakistan. Each dam’s development has significantly boosted the country’s overall electricity production. Look at the information below on some of the largest dams in Pakistan.
How Many Dams in Pakistan?
If we count all small and big dams then its strength is around 150. But the most famous dams are 7 which are listed below. Information regarding each dam is now listed with complete details.
Names of Dams in Pakistan
- Tarbela Dam
- Mangla Dam
- Diamer Bhasha dam
- Warsak Dam
- Kalabagh dam
- Weir Dam
- Mirani Dam
Tarbela Dam
The largest and most magnificent building in Pakistan is the Tarbela Dam. It is located near the KPK city of Swabi. The government constructed the dam on the Indus River. This dam has made a considerable impact on the overall electricity production in the country.
The Tarbela Dam was first started in 1968. However, the completion date was not reached until 1976. The Tarbela dam has a storage capacity of 11.1 MAF, which can be used for hydroelectric power generation.
To harness the hydropower of Tarbela Bay, seventeen hydroelectric turbines have been installed underwater.
Mangla Dam
The Mangla Dam is the world’s seventh-largest structure of its kind. In 1967, work began on the Mirpur region of the Azad Kashmir dam.
The Mangla Dam, built across the Jhelum River, stretches for 3,140 meters (10,302 ft). And it stands at a lofty 147 meters (482 feet). The project’s around $1.473 billion in expenses were covered by financing from the World Bank.
Diamer Bhasha dam
This dam is among the most effective power generators in the country due to its capabilities. The Diamer Bhasha dam is located in Kohistan, Pakistan, with a part of the structure crossing into the British town of Diamer. This barrage can generate 4800 Megawatts of electricity thanks to its twelve seawater turbines.
The Diamer Bhasha dam can hold 8 million acre-feet of water. Former Pakistani President and Army Chief of Staff Pervez Musharraf laid the groundwork and developed the strategy for this endeavor.
Warsak Dam
One of Pakistan’s most iconic buildings is the Warsak Dam. This dam is crucial to the country’s ability to generate power because of its strategically beneficial location. The Warsak dam is located on the Kabul River, near Peshawar, KPK.
This Warsak Dam took two phases of construction to complete. The first stage concluded in the year 1960. However, twenty years later, in 1981, the subsequent phase concluded. The dam can generate 243 megawatts of energy when operating at full capacity.
The original proposal was for an increase in capacity of at least 500 MW. Even though this is the case, we will keep the plan in mind.
Kalabagh dam
The Kalabagh dam is popular as the country’s most significant barrage. Well, the Mianwali area of Punjab is home to the Kalabagh dam, and the nearby Indus River provides the dam’s water supply. If assembled properly, it could produce 3,600 Megawatts of electricity.
The dam has fifteen saltwater turbines for generating hydroelectric electricity. Experts estimate that the dam might produce as much as 4,200 MW of electricity. All of us here are crossing our hopes that work can begin soon.
Weir Dam
The international boundary between Baluchistan and Sindh runs right through the middle of the Hub dam on the Hub River. This man-made lake has the potential to serve as a power plant. Located close to Karachi, this dam is a crucial water storage facility.
The dam has become a major tourist attraction due to its inclusion in Natural World Park (1974). The Hub Dam is unable to produce as much electricity as other dams. Still, it ranks among Pakistan’s largest dams.
Mirani Dam
The Mirani Dam, according to most estimates, holds more water than any other dam in the world. The Dasht River in Baluchistan is also home to the dam.
Dimensionally, it measures 39 meters (127 feet) in height and 1,020 meters (3,350 ft) in length. The capacity of the flood stock is 588,690 cubic hectometers, which is the first thing to consider.