Key Takeaways
- Pakistan's major water reservoirs have reached 9.466 million acre-feet, filling about 72% of the country's total storage capacity.
- Tarbela Dam is nearing full capacity with 5.063 MAF of water, or 90.72% of its total storage capacity.
- Authorities are diverting 354,600 cusecs of water to support Kharif crops in various provinces.
Pakistan's major water reservoirs have collectively reached a significant milestone, with the Indus River System’s total reservoir storage standing at 9.466 million acre-feet (MAF), marking about 72% of the country’s total storage capacity.
Tarbela Dam is leading this recovery, holding 5.063 MAF of water, or 90.72% of its maximum capacity, as it prepares for the peak irrigation season.
The Indus River System currently receives 401,600 cusecs of inflows, with regulated outflows at 304,700 cusecs, supported by glacier melt and monsoon rains in the upper Indus basin.
Chashma Barrage is also nearing full capacity, storing 0.285 MAF of water, equivalent to 91.64% of its maximum capacity.
In contrast, Mangla Dam remains well below its seasonal benchmark at 56.74% full due to weak rainfall across the Jhelum catchment, with limited inflows of 46,200 cusecs and releases reduced to 7,000 cusecs for water conservation.
Across Pakistan’s irrigation network, authorities are diverting 354,600 cusecs of water to support Kharif crops in Sindh (195,000 cusecs), Punjab (145,000 cusecs), Balochistan (12,000 cusecs), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2,500 cusecs).
The data also shows that 0.532 MAF of water has been released downstream of Kotri Barrage into the Arabian Sea since the beginning of the Kharif season to help limit seawater intrusion and protect the Sindh delta.
Water authorities will continue monitoring monsoon activity through mid-August, with additional rainfall over the Jhelum basin considered crucial for raising Mangla Dam’s storage before the Rabi sowing season begins.
