Water Resources & Irrigation System

The Jamrao Canal originates from the Jamrao Headworks on the Eastern Nara. It was established in 1899 and is a key historical component of the Sindh irrigation network, serving Mirpurkhas and Sanghar.

The RQ Link Canal (Rasul-Qadirabad) transfers water from the Jhelum River (at Rasul Barrage) to the Chenab River (at Qadirabad). It is a vital link in the Indus Basin Settlement Plan designed to maintain water balance.

The QB Link Canal (Qadirabad-Balloki) connects the Chenab River to the Ravi River. This transfer is essential to replenish the Ravi's water, which was significantly reduced due to diversions by India of the eastern rivers.

The BS Link Canal (Balloki-Sulemanki) transfers water from the Ravi River at Balloki to the Sutlej River at Sulemanki. This ensures that the canals originally fed by the Sutlej continue to have water for irrigation.

The MR Link Canal (Marala-Ravi) connects the Chenab River (at Marala) to the Ravi River. It is a major feeder canal designed to transfer water across the doabs of Punjab, supporting the irrigation of the Bari Doab.

The TS Link Canal (Trimmu-Sidhnai) transfers water from the Trimmu Barrage to the Ravi River at Sidhnai. This is part of the integrated water management strategy to support southern Punjab's irrigation needs.

The Ravi Syphon is a prominent engineering structure that enables the BRBD canal to pass under the Ravi River without mixing the waters, a key feature of the cross-river canal network near Lahore.

The Mailsi Syphon is a significant engineering feat that allows a link canal to pass underneath the Sutlej River. It was built to ensure that the water transfer from western to eastern regions remained unhindered by the river's seasonal flow.

The TP Link Canal transfers water from the Indus River at the Taunsa Barrage to the Panjnad system. This helps in maintaining water flow in the lower reaches of the Sutlej and Chenab confluence, supporting southern Punjab and Sindh.

According to hydrological data, the Islam Barrage on the Sutlej River has a discharge capacity of 8,946 cusecs, which is lower than the massive capacities (30,000+ cusecs) found on the main Indus River barrages like Chashma or Guddu.

The 1991 Water Apportionment Accord is a historic agreement that defines the shares of the Indus River waters for all four provinces. It remains the legal framework for water distribution and is managed by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA).

A 'Doab' (Persian for 'Two Waters') refers to the tract of land lying between two converging rivers. Major doabs in Pakistan include the Rechna Doab (between Chenab and Ravi) and the Jech Doab (between Jhelum and Chenab).

Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in Pakistan, accounting for over 90% of the total available surface and groundwater. This high consumption is due to the country's extensive irrigation network and the water-intensive nature of major crops.

The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) was established to implement the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991. It monitors the flows in the Indus River system and ensures that each province receives its constitutional share of water.

Seepage from the extensive network of unlined canals and watercourses is the primary source of groundwater recharge in the Indus Basin. This groundwater is then pumped by millions of tubewells to supplement surface water for irrigation.

The Karez system is an ancient, sustainable irrigation method where underground tunnels are used to bring water from mountain springs to the plains. This system is unique to the arid environment of Balochistan and helps prevent water loss due to evaporation.

The Diamer-Bhasha Dam is a massive multi-purpose project located on the Indus River. Once completed, it will be the highest roller-compacted concrete dam in the world, providing significant water storage for agriculture and hydroelectric power.

The Indus Basin Project (or Settlement Plan) was the massive construction effort following the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. It included the building of two large dams (Mangla and Tarbela), five barrages, and several link canals to replace water lost to India.

The Indus River is the longest and most important river in Pakistan. It supports the world's largest contiguous irrigation system and is the primary source of water for the country's agriculture, economy, and power generation.

Waterlogging and salinity are caused by the rising water table due to excessive seepage from unlined canals and poor natural drainage. This brings salts to the surface through capillary action, making the land unfit for cultivation unless managed by projects like SCARP.