Barrages and Headworks in Pakistan
Barrages and headworks in Pakistan play a crucial role in managing water resources, particularly for irrigation and hydropower generation. These structures are essential for controlling the flow of rivers and harnessing water for various purposes across different regions of the country. The list of all Barrages and Headworks of Pakistan includes Marala Headworks, Khanki Barrage, Kotri Barrage, and Guddu Barrage etc. These structures are strategically located on rivers like the Chenab, Indus, and Sindh, serving vital functions in water management and agricultural development in Pakistan.
Headworks in Pakistan encompass a spectrum of infrastructure projects situated along rivers and canals. They serve the primary purpose of managing and distributing water resources to cater to irrigation, domestic, and industrial needs. By facilitating the diversion, storage, and controlled distribution of water, these headworks play a foundational role in sustaining Pakistan’s agricultural sector, where irrigation is fundamental for crop cultivation and productivity.
Similarly, barrages in Pakistan are indispensable structures, contributing significantly to water management, irrigation, and flood mitigation efforts nationwide. These barrages are strategically position to harness the flow of rivers, thereby optimizing water resources for various sectors of the economy. Additionally, they play a crucial role in regulating river flow, mitigating flood risks, and supporting sustainable water usage practices.
List of Barrages and Headworks in Pakistan
Here is a comprehensive list detailing some of the famous barrages and headworks in Pakistan, along with their respective locations, districts, and the rivers on which they are construct:
1) Chenab River
Marala Headworks, Punjab
Marala Headworks, located on the Chenab River near Sialkot in Punjab, Pakistan has a length of 500,000 feet (150 km), played a pivotal role in the region’s irrigation infrastructure. Initially, a weir was construct between 1906 and 1912 during British rule in India as part of the ‘Triple Canals Project’. This weir served the purpose of diverting water to feed the Upper Chenab Canal, facilitating agricultural activities in the area.
In 1968, recognizing the increasing demand for water resources and the need for enhanced irrigation, a new structure, the Marala Barrage, was erect. This barrage expanded the capabilities of the headworks by not only supplying water to the Upper Chenab Canal but also diverting water to the Marala–Ravi Link Canal.
The establishment of the Marala Barrage marked a significant advancement in water management and irrigation practices, further optimizing the utilization of the Chenab River’s resources to support agricultural development in Punjab, Pakistan.
Khanki Headworks, Punjab
The Khanki Headworks, located on the River Chenab in the Gujranwala District of Punjab province, Pakistan, holds historical significance as one of the oldest headworks in the country, constructed in 1892 and replaced by the New Khanki Barrage in 2017. The total length of the barrage is 4,384 feet (or approximately 1,336 meters).
Its primary function is to divert water to the Lower Chenab Canal, which originates from the Khanki Headworks. This canal system regulates water distribution over approximately 3 million acres (12,000 km2) of agricultural land through one main distributary, the Lower Chenab Canal, along with 59 minor distributaries.
The Khanki Headworks plays a crucial role in managing water resources, supporting agricultural activities, and sustaining livelihoods in the region by ensuring efficient water distribution to the vast agricultural lands of Punjab, Pakistan.
Qadirabad Headworks, Punjab
The Qadirabad Barrage, situated approximately 30 km to the left of Gujranwala on the River Chenab in the Punjab province of Pakistan, serves multiple functions as a hydroelectric plant and a wildlife game reserve. It stands as a significant engineering structure within the broader Indus Basin project. The Qadirabad Barrage has a length of 3376 feet between its abutments, with 50 spans of 60 feet each between the piers
Constructed as part of the Rasul – Wazirabad – Balloki – Sulemanki Link Canal system, the Qadirabad Barrage plays a crucial role in managing water resources and facilitating irrigation in the region. The construction of the barrage was overseen by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and was complete in 1967.
The Qadirabad Balloki Link Canal, which branches off from the left side of the barrage, forms an integral part of the Rasul Balloki Link Canal System, contributing to the efficient distribution of water for agricultural purposes and other socio-economic activities in Punjab, Pakistan.
Trimmu Barrage, Punjab
The Trimmu Barrage is a structure built on the River Chenab in the Jhang District of Pakistan’s Punjab province. It sits downstream from where the River Jhelum joins the Chenab, about 25 km from Jhang city near Atharan Hazari. Constructed between 1937 and 1939 on the Chenab River, situated at Trimmu, with a design capacity of 645,000 cusecs and has a length of 922 m (3025 ft) between its abutments.
This Barrage Construct by British engineers, led by Chief Engineer James Douglas Hardy Bedford, it was initially known as a flood control measure to safeguard Jhang from floods.
Its main purpose is to regulate the water flow into the River Chenab for irrigation and flood management. As part of Pakistan’s Indus Water Plan, Trimmu Barrage was one of the seven link canals establish after the Indus Water Treaty.
2) Indus River
Jinnah Barrage, Punjab
The Jinnah Barrage is a significant structure situate on the River Indus near Kalabagh, Pakistan. It plays a crucial role in the Thal Project, which facilitates irrigation across 770,000 hectares (1,900,000 acres) in the Sindh Sagar Doab, located east of the Indus River.
Initial planning for this project traces back to the nineteenth century, but the final plans for the barrage were solidified in 1919. Construction took place between 1939 and 1946. The barrage channels an average of 283 cubic meters per second (10,000 cubic feet per second) of water into the Thal Canal, which extends 51.5 kilometers (32.0 miles). This water serves regions in Bhakkar, Khushab, Layyah, Mianwali, and Muzaffargarh Districts, along with an additional 3,362 kilometers (2,089 miles) of canal branches and distributors.
The Jinnah Barrage has a length of 1,152 meters (3,780 feet) between its abutments. The barrage has a maximum flood height of 8.5 meters (28 feet). It can discharge up to 27,000 cubic meters per second (950,000 cubic feet per second) downstream through 42 spillway gates, each 18.2 meters (60 feet) wide.
Chashma Barrage, Punjab
The Chashma Barrage is a significant structure situate on the River Indus in the Mianwali District of Punjab, Pakistan. It lies 304 kilometers northwest of Lahore and is position 56 kilometers downstream of the Jinnah Barrage. The Barrage has a length of 1,084 meters (3,556 feet).
The construction contract for the Chashma Barrage was award on February 10, 1967, to the French Consortium Société Dumez and Société Borie. Remarkably, it was successfully complete by March 25, 1971, at a total cost of Rs. 399 million. Although the barrage was complete by then, power generation commenced much later, starting in 2001.
The power station at Chashma Barrage boasts an installed capacity of 184 megawatts, facilitated by eight Kaplan-type bulb turbine units, each with a capacity of 23 megawatts. These bulb turbines represent a pioneering technology in Pakistan. The first turbine unit was commission in January 2001, and the final commissioning of all units was accomplish by July 2001. Notably, the eight Kaplan-type turbines and synchronous generator units were manufacture by Fuji, Japan.
Taunsa Barrage, Punjab
The Head Taunsa Barrage is a crucial structure located on the River Indus in the Taunsa district, previously part of the Dera Ghazi Khan District, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Established in 1958, Positioned 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Taunsa Sharif and 16 kilometers (9.9 miles) from district Kot Addu, this barrage plays a pivotal role in managing water flow in the River Indus for both irrigation and flood control purposes. The Barrage has a length of 1,325 meters (4,346 feet) between its abutments.
The Taunsa Barrage, acknowledge for its ecological importance, was officially recognized as a Ramsar site on March 22, 1996, highlighting its environmental significance and conservation value.
The barrage serves an extensive area encompassing 2.351 million acres (951,400 hectares) of land, in addition to redirecting flows from the Indus River to the Chenab River through the Taunsa-Panjnad Link Canal (TP Link Canal). Notably, the barrage also functions as a vital arterial road bridge, a railway bridge, and a crossing point for gas and oil pipelines, telephone lines, and extra high voltage (EHV) transmission lines.
Guddu Barrage, Sindh
The Guddu Barrage stands as a significant structure on the Indus River, located near Kashmore in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Its foundation stone was laid by President Iskander Mirza on February 2, 1957. The barrage Complete in 1962, the barrage was inaugurate by Field Marshal Ayub Khan at a cost of 474.8 million rupees. The Barrage has a length of 1,355 meters (4,445 feet)
Primarily, the Guddu Barrage serves to regulate the water flow in the River Indus for both irrigation and flood control purposes. It boasts a discharge capacity of 1.2 million cubic feet per second (34,000 m³/s) and is categorize as a gate-controlled weir-type barrage featuring a navigation lock. With 64 bays, each 60 feet (18 m) wide, the barrage reaches a maximum flood level height of 26 feet (8 m).
The Guddu Barrage significantly influences irrigation supplies to approximately 2.9 million acres (12,000 km²) of agricultural land across the Kashmore, Jacobabad, Larkana, and Sukkur districts of Sindh province, as well as the Naseerabad district of Balochistan province. It facilitates the Ghotki Feeder, Begari Feeder, Desert, and Pat Feeder canals, thus playing a crucial role in sustaining agricultural activities in the region.
Sukkur Barrage, Sindh
The Sukkur Barrage, a marvel of engineering, spans across the Indus River near the city of Sukkur in Sindh, Pakistan. Constructed during the British Raj from 1923 to 1932, this barrage is the pride of Pakistan’s irrigation system and the largest single irrigation network of its kind in the world. The Barrage has a length of approximately 1,600 meters (1 mile or 1.6 kilometres).
The Sukkur Barrage, originally named the Lloyd Barrage, is located approximately 500 kilometers (300 miles) northeast of Karachi, Pakistan. It sits just 5 kilometers (3 miles) downstream from the railway bridge, known as the Sukkur Gorge. It serves as a crucial component in controlling water flow for irrigation and flood control purposes.
The Sukkur Barrage enables water to flow through a network of seven canals, spanning a total length of 9,923 kilometers (6,166 miles). This extensive system irrigates nearly 7.63 million acres of land, which accounts for about 25% of the total canal-irrigated area in Pakistan.
The barrage’s retaining wall features 66 spans (outfall gates), each measuring 18 meters (60 feet) wide and weighing 50 tons. The Nara Canal, one of the seven canals originating from the Sukkur Barrage, is the longest canal in Pakistan, carrying a discharge almost equal to that of the River Thames in London. The Rohri Canal, though slightly shorter than the Nara Canal, carries a much higher discharge.
Kotri Barrage, Sindh
The Kotri Barrage, also referred to as the Ghulam Muhammad Barrage, stands as a crucial infrastructure on the Indus River, positioned between Jamshoro and Hyderabad in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Completed in 1955 and inaugurated by Ghulam Muhammad, it plays a pivotal role in regulating water flow in the Indus for irrigation and flood control purposes. The Kotri Barrage has a total length of 1,600 meters (1.6 kilometers).
With a discharge capacity of 24,800 cubic meters per second (875,000 cu ft/s), the Kotri Barrage is categorize as a gate-controlled weir-type barrage, featuring a navigation lock. It comprises 44 bays, each spanning 18 meters (60 ft) in width. The maximum flood level height of the Kotri Barrage reaches 13.1 meters (43.1 ft).
The barrage serves as a crucial source for the Fulleli, Pinyari, and Kalri Baghar Canals, facilitating irrigation across the region and contributing significantly to agricultural activities and flood management initiatives.
Ghazi Barrage or Ghazi-Barotha Hydropower, Punjab
The Ghazi Barotha Barrage is a crucial component of the Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project, located on the Indus River in northwestern Pakistan. It is situate 7 kilometers downstream from the Tarbela Dam and plays a vital role in diverting water for power generation purposes. Construction began in 1995 and was complete in 2004.
The barrage is design to pass the design flood of 18,700 cubic meters per second (660,000 cusecs) through standard bays and under sluices at a normal pond level of 340 meters (1,115.50 feet). Additionally, the barrage has a fuse plug to handle extreme floods up to the capacity of Tarbela’s spillway and tunnels, equivalent to 46,200 cubic meters per second (1,630,000 cusecs).
The Ghazi Barotha Barrage is 2.5 kilometers (1.55 miles) long and 25 meters high, constructed using a combination of concrete and earth materials. It forms an essential part of the hydropower project’s infrastructure, ensuring the efficient flow of water to the power station at Barotha for electricity generation.
The barrage diverts water for power generation, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s electricity supply by generating 10% of the country’s power. The Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project, with a total installed capacity of 1,450 MW, consists of five generating units, each with a rated capacity of 290 MW.
Sindh Barrage, Sindh
The Sindh Barrage is a forthcoming project in Sindh, Pakistan, set to be erect on the Indus River, positioned between the Kotri Barrage and the point where the Indus River meets the Arabian Sea. The Barrage Approximately 1,600 meters (1 mile or 1.6 kilometres) long. The barrage site is plan to be locate about 30 km upstream from the Indus River outfall, 10 km east of Baghan village, 75 km south of Thatta city, and 105 km east of Karachi city.
The proposed barrage will be 12 meters high with dykes on both banks in the flood plain that would be 4 to 9 meters high. The reservoir in the flood plain from the barrage would extend 160 km upstream to prevent sea intrusion into the Indus River. Two canals are in the planning stages, with the intention of providing irrigation and drinking water to the coastal area extending up to Dhabeji and Tharparkar on each side of the Sindh Barrage project..
The project study is expect to be complete in September 2021, and construction work is schedule to start in January 2022 and finish in December 2024. The estimated cost of the project is 125 billion Pakistani Rupees or about 750 million US Dollars.
This project, owned by the Government of Pakistan and operated by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), aims to irrigate about 55,000 acres of land affected by desertification and high soil salinity.
3) Jhelum River
Rasul Barrage, Punjab
The Rasul Barrage is a significant hydraulic structure position on the River Jhelum, marking the boundary between Jhelum District and Mandi Bahauddin District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is strategically located 72 kilometers downstream of the Mangla Dam. It serves as a cornerstone of the region’s irrigation system and is diligently maintain by the Punjab Irrigation Department. Built in 1968, the barrage stretches over a length of 975 meters (3,201 feet) and has a width of 17 meters (56 feet).
With a fall of 6 meters (20 feet) and an elevation of 250 meters (820 feet) above sea level, the Rasool Barrage assumes a pivotal role in regulating the flow of the Jhelum River and effectively managing water resources in the surrounding areas.
4) Panjnad River
Panjnad Headworks
Panjnad Headworks is a picturesque site and agricultural hub located in Punjab, Pakistan, near Uch and Bahawalpur. It holds significance as the convergence point for all five rivers of Punjab. This headworks was construct between 1928 and 1932 at a cost of approximately Rs. 1.93 billion.
The Panjnad Headworks, also known as Panjnad Barrage, manages three main canals: the Panjnad canal, Abbassia canal, and Abbassia link canal. These canals play a crucial role in irrigating the districts of Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan, as well as the northern Sindh region.
In 2020, the Panjnad Barrage underwent remodeling to enhance its water passing capacity, enabling semi-automatic control of gates. This upgrade ensures more efficient water distribution for agricultural purposes and contributes to the development of the surrounding areas. Moreover, Panjnad Headworks serves as a charming picnic spot, attracting visitors with its natural beauty and historical significance.
5) Ravi River
Balloki Headworks
Head Balloki, also known as Balloki Headworks, is a barrage located on the Ravi River in the Punjab province of Pakistan, approximately 70 kilometers from Lahore. Originally construct around 1915 during British rule in India, it was establish as part of the ‘Triple Canals Project’ to supply water to the Lower Bari Doab Canal.
The Balloki Headworks on the River Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan has a weir with an extreme length of 1646.5 feet, divided into 35 bays, each 40 feet clear by piers 7.25 feet wide.
Initially, it was built as a weir, but over time, it has been reconstructed into a full-fledge barrage. The original construction proved to be economically viable, with the canal generating a profit of 24% within a decade by 1928–29. This success underscores the significance of the Head Balloki Barrage in efficiently managing water resources and facilitating agricultural activities in the region.
Sidhnai Headworks
Sidhnai Headworks, establish in 1965, is situate in Khanewal District, Punjab, Pakistan. It marks the final headworks over the Ravi River before it merges with the Chenab River approximately 15 kilometers downstream. This scenic location is located around 2 kilometers from Abdul Hakeem and is renown for being a beautiful resort ideal for picnics.
This strategic location makes Sidhnai Headworks a crucial point for managing water flow and distribution before the Ravi River joins the Chenab River further downstream.
The new Sidhnai Barrage was construct 31,000 feet upstream of the old Sidhnai weir with a design capacity of 150,000 cubic feet per second. This site is not only functional but also a picturesque spot, often frequented for picnics and leisure activities.
6) Swat River
Amandara Headworks
The Amandara Headworks is a significant infrastructure located on the Swat River in the Malakand District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. It is situate near the town of Batkhela and serves to divert water into the Upper Swat Canal.
This Headworks, completed in 1934 with a design discharge capacity of 170,000 cusecs, is a crucial infrastructure facilitating water management in the region. Its construction aimed to optimize water distribution, especially during periods of varying flow rates in the river.
The A.T Works was specifically design to supplement the Amandara Headworks during low-flow seasons, ensuring maximum utilization of river water for the Upper Swat Canal system. Conversely, during floods, approximately one-third of the flow is redirect towards the Amandara Headworks, while the remaining two-thirds are divert into the Northern creek of the Swat River.
The Amandara Headworks consists of several key components. The Head Regulator, spanning a length of 212 feet with a waterway width of 180 feet, features nine gates measuring 21×7 feet (Upper) and 21×5 feet (Lower). It boasts a discharge capacity of 3657 cusecs, with a Crest Reduced Level of 2164.60.
Munda Headworks, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Munda Headworks is a crucial infrastructure located on the River Swat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It serves the essential function of controlling water flow in the River Swat for both irrigation and flood control purposes.
The headworks, constructed in 1931, plays a significant role in managing water resources in the region and supporting agricultural activities by regulating the flow of water for irrigation purposes. It is situate approximately 5 km downstream of the under-construction Munda Dam and 35 km north of Peshawar.
Munda Headworks is use to divert water into the Lower Swat Canal System, which consists of the Lower Swat Canal, Warsak Canal, and Kabul River Canal. These canals provide irrigation water to a vast area of agricultural land in the districts of Charsadda, Mardan, and Peshawar.
The headworks is approximately 1.5 kilometers long and is construct using a combination of concrete and earth materials. It is design to handle a discharge capacity of 1,800 cubic meters per second (63,566 cusecs) at a maximum flood level.
7) Sutlej River
Sulemanki Headworks
Sulemanki Headworks is a vital irrigation and flood control structure located on the River Sutlej in Sulemanki Village, near Depalpur City, in the Okara district of Punjab province, Pakistan. It was construct between 1922-1927 as part of the Sutlej Valley Project, funded by the Nawab of Bahawalpur, Amir Sadiq Mohammed Khan V and the British Government.
The headworks is use to divert water into three major canals that supply irrigation water to a large area in Southern Punjab and the Bahawalnagar district. These canals include the Upper Pakpattan Canal from the right bank and two canals, Fordwah and Eastern Sadiqia Canal, from the left bank. The Eastern Sadiqia Canal runs along the Pakistan-India border and holds strategic importance as a defensive landmark against potential Indian intrusion.
In 1961, as part of border settlement efforts, India transferred 12 villages to Pakistan near Sulemanki Headworks in exchange for Hussainiwala village. The construction of the Pakpattan Canal occurred in British Punjab in 1925 on the right bank of Sulemanki Headworks with the aim of developing the Nilli bar colony in southern Punjab. Following the partition of British India, the left bank area of Sulemanki Headworks became part of India. However, in 1961, as part of an agreement, this left bank area was transfer to Pakistan in exchange for the right bank area of Hussainiwala headworks.
Islam Headworks
The Islam Headworks, commonly referred to as Head Islam, is a significant headworks located on the River Sutlej in Hasilpur Tehsil of Punjab province, Pakistan. Its primary functions include irrigation and flood control.
Situate approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) north of Hasilpur and about 7.5 kilometers (4.7 mi) south of Luddan on the Vehari-Hasilpur road, the headworks was complete in 1927 as part of the Sutlej Valley Project. Its construction aimed at irrigating the Nili Bar region.
The Islam Headworks stretches 503 meters (1,650 ft) in length and is design to handle a discharge of 8,500 cubic meters per second (300,000 cu ft/s). It features two main canals that serve a vast area: the Mailsi Canal (150 m3/s) originating from its right bank and the Bahawal Canal (150 m3/s) from the left. Additionally, a smaller canal called the Qaim Canal (15.8 m3/s) arises from the left bank.
In total, these canals irrigate approximately 278,800 hectares (689,000 acres) of land in Southern Punjab and 283,300 hectares (700,000 acres) in the former Bahawalpur state. The Islam Headworks plays a crucial role in agricultural development and water management in the region.
These barrages and headworks are essential components of Pakistan’s water infrastructure, supporting agriculture, electricity generation, and flood prevention across various provinces. If you wish to explore further details about the List of all Barrages and Headworks of Pakistan, you can visit the corresponding Wikipedia page.