Pakistan’s Major Dams Reach 72% Storage, Tarbela Nears Capacity

Islamabad: Pakistan’s major reservoirs collectively held 9.466 million acre-feet of water as of August 2, reaching about 72 percent of their combined storage capacity of 13.149 MAF. Official figures reported by national media showed Tarbela Dam leading the recovery with 5.063 MAF, equivalent to 90.72 percent of its reported capacity. Chashma reservoir stood at 91.64 percent, while Mangla remained comparatively lower at 56.74 percent because of weaker rainfall in the Jhelum catchment. Total inflows across the Indus River System reached 401,600 cusecs against regulated outflows of 304,700 cusecs. Authorities were diverting 354,600 cusecs into the irrigation network to support Kharif crops, including rice, cotton and sugarcane.