Pakistan has been blessed with enormous natural resources ranging from mountain peaks, world largest glaciers masses after polar region, diverse climates, mountainous regions, plains and deserts. One of these bounties of Almighty Allah are the frozen waters of the north-called glaciers. These frozen waters provide source of water to more than 60% of the population in three provinces of the country. This water is also source of one of the world largest irrigation systems also called Indus River System (IRS). Nature has blessed these waters with vast opportunities of hydropower generation but unfortunately, the successive governments have not been able to produce sufficient energy from water. As a result, we are heavily dependent on thermal power plants run by coal and fossil fuels. This energy is both expensive and detrimental for environment. According to some estimates, the Indus Water in the north has a capacity to generate about 100,000 megawatts of electricity, but today only 10,000 MW is produced which is only 10% of the capacity of power generation. The increasing prices of fossil fuels have also led to mammoth increase in the power prices.
The present government must be credited to initiate mega power projects in the country after 30 years. In one decade (2018-2028), the ten mega hydropower generation projects will be completed and the decade has been named as “Decade of Dams”. The storage capacity in Pakistan will increase from 13.6 million acre feet (MAF) to 25.3 MAF. This will additional irrigate about 3.5 million acres of new land, which will usher agri revolution in the country. In next 4 years, the hydel power capacity of the country will increase by 4500 MW and by 2029, it will further add 9000 MW, hence in next 8 years, the hydel power capacity of the country will be doubled. With the completion of these mega projects, 35000 new jobs will be created, which will improve the socio-economic conditions of the country. To ensure urban water security, 950 million gallons of additional water will be provided daily. These mega projects include Dimar-Bhasha Dam, Dassu Hydropower project, Mohmand Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, Nai Gaj Dam, Extension of Tarbela Dam, Harop Hydropower Project, Reconstruction of Sindh Barrage, Extension of Kachi Canals and Karachi Greater Water Supply Scheme. Diamer-Bhasha Dam (DBD) is one of the largest Concrete Roller Compacted dams, which is under construction at 40 km from Chilas city. The designed storage capacity of the dam is 8 MAF. On completion, DBD will produce 4800 MW of electricity. Due to construction of new dam at the upstream end, the silt load of the water stored in Tarbela Dam will substantially reduce and its working life will be increase by 36 years. The height of the dam is 272 meters and it is comprised of 8 spillways. Currently the project is being constructed by China Power and FWO. The commissioning of the project will require at least 10 years and extensive investment as well as foreign exchange.
Dassu Hydrpower Project (DHP): This project is being constructed on the run of river at 7 km from Dassu to Chilas, which is at 345 km from Islamabad. The project will produce 4320 MW on completion. In first phase six units will be completed to generate 2160 MW whereas in second phase, its capacity will be doubled. The estimated completion cost of the project is Pak Rupees 510 billion which also includes 218 billion of foreign exchange. During construction of the project, 37 km of the road will be shifted towards the right side of the river. The project requires about 10,000 acres of land. Half of the land has been already acquired and the acquisition of the remaining land is in process. The project is expected to be completed by 2026.
Mohmand Dam was previously called as Munda Dam, which is being constructed over the River Swat at 37 km from Peshawar towards North. On completion, the project will generate 740 MW of power and irrigate 15000 acre of land. The return of the dam will include 5 billion from water storage, 120 billion of power generation and 80 Million from flood mitigation every year.
Harpo Power Project is located on the left bank of River Indus, at 75 km towards north of the Skardu city. On completion, the project will produce 34 MW energy and will be completed with an estimated cost of Rs. 9 billion including 6 billion foreign exchange.
Extension of Tarbela has been started in August 2021 and it is expected that the project will be completed in next 4 years at total cost of PKR 82 billion. With the completion of this project, an additional 1410 MW of power will be generated. Besides hydropower generation, the project will create recreational facilities, developing fishing and excursions etc.
Kurram Tangi Dam is multi-purpose project, being constructed on the Kaito River, which become Kurram river at the downstream in North Waziristan, about 14km upstream of Kurram Garhi Headworks and 32km north of Bannu. Besides generating 83 MW of power, the project will also irrigate 16,000 acres of land. This will improve garniture in the region.
Nai Gaj Dam Sindh is currently under construction in the Kirthar range at Gaj River at about 65km North West of Dadu City. The height of the dam is about 194 km, which will produce 4.2 MW and store 300,000 Acre feet of water. The estimated cost of the project is 16 billion and will be completed in next 2 years. It will irrigate about 28,000 acres of barren land. Nai Gaj Dam will supply 50 cusecs of water to the Manchar Lake decreasing its pollution. Furthermore, the water will also be supplied from the dam to Kachho desert and area of Kohistan in Dadu District.
Improvement of Sindh Barrage aims to improve the performance, safety and efficiency of the Sukkar and Guddu barrages. This will be improving the irrigation system of the province. This project is being constructed with the loan from World Bank at a cost of US$ 140 million.
Extension of Kachi Canals is another project. It will be completed at PKR 20 billion during current year. The existing Canal irrigation system will be extended by 40km, which will provide irrigation water to 30,000 acres of barren land in Dera Bugti. The project has high significance for eradicating poverty in the region. Thousand acres of barren land in Dera Bugti and Sui areas will be irrigated from this water.
Karachi Greater Water Supply Scheme: The project remained suspended for two decades, but the present government has reviewed its design and has planned to complete it by end of 2023. This project will provide about 260 million gallons of water per day to Karachi. The project is jointly sponsored by federal and provincial governments and is included in the Prime Minister Package for Karachi. These mega hydropower project planned to be completed in next 10 years will transform the power sector, agriculture and manufacturing sector of the country. Socioeconomic development will also be ushered with these projects. There is a need to support these mega projects at all levels.
The author is vice chancellor at Karakoram International University and can be accessed at drshah965@gmail.com.
The present government must be credited to initiate mega power projects in the country after 30 years. In one decade (2018-2028), the ten mega hydropower generation projects will be completed and the decade has been named as “Decade of Dams”. The storage capacity in Pakistan will increase from 13.6 million acre feet (MAF) to 25.3 MAF. This will additional irrigate about 3.5 million acres of new land, which will usher agri revolution in the country. In next 4 years, the hydel power capacity of the country will increase by 4500 MW and by 2029, it will further add 9000 MW, hence in next 8 years, the hydel power capacity of the country will be doubled. With the completion of these mega projects, 35000 new jobs will be created, which will improve the socio-economic conditions of the country. To ensure urban water security, 950 million gallons of additional water will be provided daily. These mega projects include Dimar-Bhasha Dam, Dassu Hydropower project, Mohmand Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, Nai Gaj Dam, Extension of Tarbela Dam, Harop Hydropower Project, Reconstruction of Sindh Barrage, Extension of Kachi Canals and Karachi Greater Water Supply Scheme. Diamer-Bhasha Dam (DBD) is one of the largest Concrete Roller Compacted dams, which is under construction at 40 km from Chilas city. The designed storage capacity of the dam is 8 MAF. On completion, DBD will produce 4800 MW of electricity. Due to construction of new dam at the upstream end, the silt load of the water stored in Tarbela Dam will substantially reduce and its working life will be increase by 36 years. The height of the dam is 272 meters and it is comprised of 8 spillways. Currently the project is being constructed by China Power and FWO. The commissioning of the project will require at least 10 years and extensive investment as well as foreign exchange.
Dassu Hydrpower Project (DHP): This project is being constructed on the run of river at 7 km from Dassu to Chilas, which is at 345 km from Islamabad. The project will produce 4320 MW on completion. In first phase six units will be completed to generate 2160 MW whereas in second phase, its capacity will be doubled. The estimated completion cost of the project is Pak Rupees 510 billion which also includes 218 billion of foreign exchange. During construction of the project, 37 km of the road will be shifted towards the right side of the river. The project requires about 10,000 acres of land. Half of the land has been already acquired and the acquisition of the remaining land is in process. The project is expected to be completed by 2026.
Mohmand Dam was previously called as Munda Dam, which is being constructed over the River Swat at 37 km from Peshawar towards North. On completion, the project will generate 740 MW of power and irrigate 15000 acre of land. The return of the dam will include 5 billion from water storage, 120 billion of power generation and 80 Million from flood mitigation every year.
Harpo Power Project is located on the left bank of River Indus, at 75 km towards north of the Skardu city. On completion, the project will produce 34 MW energy and will be completed with an estimated cost of Rs. 9 billion including 6 billion foreign exchange.
Extension of Tarbela has been started in August 2021 and it is expected that the project will be completed in next 4 years at total cost of PKR 82 billion. With the completion of this project, an additional 1410 MW of power will be generated. Besides hydropower generation, the project will create recreational facilities, developing fishing and excursions etc.
Kurram Tangi Dam is multi-purpose project, being constructed on the Kaito River, which become Kurram river at the downstream in North Waziristan, about 14km upstream of Kurram Garhi Headworks and 32km north of Bannu. Besides generating 83 MW of power, the project will also irrigate 16,000 acres of land. This will improve garniture in the region.
Nai Gaj Dam Sindh is currently under construction in the Kirthar range at Gaj River at about 65km North West of Dadu City. The height of the dam is about 194 km, which will produce 4.2 MW and store 300,000 Acre feet of water. The estimated cost of the project is 16 billion and will be completed in next 2 years. It will irrigate about 28,000 acres of barren land. Nai Gaj Dam will supply 50 cusecs of water to the Manchar Lake decreasing its pollution. Furthermore, the water will also be supplied from the dam to Kachho desert and area of Kohistan in Dadu District.
Improvement of Sindh Barrage aims to improve the performance, safety and efficiency of the Sukkar and Guddu barrages. This will be improving the irrigation system of the province. This project is being constructed with the loan from World Bank at a cost of US$ 140 million.
Extension of Kachi Canals is another project. It will be completed at PKR 20 billion during current year. The existing Canal irrigation system will be extended by 40km, which will provide irrigation water to 30,000 acres of barren land in Dera Bugti. The project has high significance for eradicating poverty in the region. Thousand acres of barren land in Dera Bugti and Sui areas will be irrigated from this water.
Karachi Greater Water Supply Scheme: The project remained suspended for two decades, but the present government has reviewed its design and has planned to complete it by end of 2023. This project will provide about 260 million gallons of water per day to Karachi. The project is jointly sponsored by federal and provincial governments and is included in the Prime Minister Package for Karachi. These mega hydropower project planned to be completed in next 10 years will transform the power sector, agriculture and manufacturing sector of the country. Socioeconomic development will also be ushered with these projects. There is a need to support these mega projects at all levels.
The author is vice chancellor at Karakoram International University and can be accessed at drshah965@gmail.com.