THE need for new storages, wherever feasible on the Indus and other rivers, was recognized by the Water Accord 1991, but construction of a dam on Indus, especially at Kalabagh has become a contentious issue.

What is obstructing a national project of vital importance that promises irrigation of three million acres of land and generation of 2400 mw of cheap power? Time has come when an answer to this question must be found for our survival. We will have to dispassionately analyze different viewpoints to come to a logical conclusion. To do this, we will have to start from the beginning.

Indus is the largest of the six great rivers of the Indus Basin. The Indus Water Treaty of 1960 allocated the three rivers, Ravi, Beas and Sutluj, with a total annual flow of 33 million acre feet (maf), to India and the three Western rivers, Chenab, Jhelum and Indus, with a total annual flow of about 140 maf, to Pakistan.

Pre-independence (1940-45) water usages:
 

After the Independence, new barrages were built on Indus along with their canal systems to augment the irrigated agriculture. Kalabagh barrage was built in 1947, Kotri in 1955, Taunsa in 1958 and Guddu in 1962. Consequent to the Indus Water Treaty, replacement works comprising Mangla dam, barrages and link canals were built which made good the loss of water from the eastern rivers. Water usages during 1965-70 increased to 97.57 maf as under:

A history of mistrust is central to water distribution. In the past 70-80 years, integrated hydraulics reaching water budget constraints, have led to riparian conflicts. The government appointed a number of committees and commissions to resolve the water distribution issues which finally resulted in the historic 1991 Water Accord. In the meantime, while Pakistan’s population grew to 150 million, the growth in water sector remained stagnant because the waters of the Indus system were not apportioned to the provinces till 1991. The use of available water from Tarbela was not optimized for agricultural expansion and development. It was consumed in a most haphazard manner through the existing canals of Punjab and Sindh. Post-Tarbela (1977-87) water use increased from 97.57 maf to 104.53 maf as under:
 

In the absence of planned expansion of irrigation system, Tarbela water was added to the existing systems of Punjab and Sindh with serious consequences in terms of water logging and salinity. Although water utilization in NWFP increased from 4.89 to 5.62 MAF, this was basically in the civil canals situated above the rim stations as the province neither had the necessary infrastructure to utilize water from Tarbela nor it could get any new scheme approved in the absence of water apportionment between the provinces.

The Water Apportionment Accord 1991 distributed the waters of the Indus Basin among the provinces as under:
 

The accord recognizes the need for future storages for agricultural expansion and distributes the flood water as well as the water from future storages between the four provinces in the ratio of Punjab 37, Sindh 37, NWFP 14 and Balochistan 12 per cent.

After allocation of 114.35 maf from the average annual inflow of 140 MAF, a balance of about 25 maf remains unutilized and flows out to sea. Ten maf is optimally required for escapage to sea below Kotri for environmental protection and approximately 15 maf remains surplus for storage and year round utilization. Kalabagh dam with the maximum retention level of 915.00 and storage of 5.2 maf, can effectively regulate 15 maf throughout the year, which will be distributed as under:
 

		Kharif	Rabi	Total
Punjab	37%	3.625	1.925	5.55
Sindh	37%	3.625	1.925	5.55
NWFP	14%	1.37	0.73	2.1
Balochistan	12%	1.18	0 Our readers are at the heart of everything we do. Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com. Newspaper     Email Your Name* Recipient Email* Cancel 0 Read more Remittances hit record $4.3bn in May Pakistan’s trade with Central Asia faces snags $4.5bn refinery planned in Hub Comments Closed Most Popular 01 What’s eating Pakistan’s mangoes? 02 BUDGET 2026-27: Budget timing in doubt after NEC meeting put off again 03 GB Election Commission bars consolidation of results until re-polling in 5 constituencies 04 Lebanese army commander calls on CDF Munir, discusses regional security environment 05 US helicopter crew who went down in Strait of Hormuz rescued by drone 06 No survivors as Pakistan Army Mi-17 helicopter crashes near Muzaffarabad: ISPR 07 AJK flare-up 08 India nears completion of strategic Himalayan tunnel near China border 09 CDA board approves formation of three agencies Latest Stories Pakistanis rejoice as national football team wins its first tournament in 74 years Any attempt to block water will have 'far-reaching consequences', warns FO after Indian minister's remarks PPP, PML-N delegations discuss formula to form GB govt at Gilgit huddle Folding clothes, making coffee and sandwich — Indian workers training AI robots to take their jobs At UN, Pakistan terms inter-civilisation dialogue key to addressing contemporary challenges US, Iran hit each other again as hopes for quick peace deal fade Opinion Regulation and deregulation Ishrat Husain The challenge is to regulate intelligently, promote competition and enforce rules impartially. Updated 11 Jun, 2026 Cracks in the edifice Khurram Husain Updated 11 Jun, 2026 100, not out… F.S. Aijazuddin 11 Jun, 2026 While Atlas stands Aqdas Afzal 10 Jun, 2026 Pakistan’s human capital future Ahsan Jamil Editorial Updated 11 Jun, 2026 GB polls’ aftermath The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively. 11 Jun, 2026 Peace in retreat THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly... 11 Jun, 2026 A few good men IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a... Updated 10 Jun, 2026 Centre vs provinces The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues. 10 Jun, 2026 Party in crisis THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry... 10 Jun, 2026 Varsity woes FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic... Dawn News English Podcasts Subscribe Can Sharing A Video Get You Arrested In The Gulf? FIFA World Cup 2026 Preview Netherlands World Cup 2026 Preview: Can the Dutch Finally Go All the Way? South Korea World Cup 2026 Preview: Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae & Knockout Chances Pakistan's Untapped Billion-Dollar Farming Industry Jordan World Cup 2026 Preview: Group J Debut, Tactics, Strengths & Chances Argentina World Cup 2026 Analysis: Messi, Defensive Issues & Quarter-Final Predictions ‹ Iran targets American bases in Jordan and the Gulf after fresh US strikes near Hormuz › What’s eating Pakistan’s mangoes?