Floods Summary

In year 2010, the monsoon brought with it the worst flooding in past 80 years in the region. The
rivers surge and overflow due to heavy monsoon rains in the KP, Sindh, lower Punjab and
Balochistan regions which comprehensively devastated areas from Gilgit-Baltistan to the Kotri
(Sindh) i.e. last structure across River Indus. Flows in western rivers were very high during
2010 flood season and some of the discharge levels recorded were comparable to those observed
during the floods of 1956, 1976, and 1992.

2010 Flood:

The estimated cost of floods damages to irrigation, drainage and flood protection infrastructure
as RS 23.30 Billion and their reconstruction/rehabilitation costs is around Rs 83 billion, which
includes remodeling costs of some structure for building back safer.

According to Pakistani government data, the floods directly affected about 20 million people,
mostly by destruction of property, livelihood and infrastructure, with a death toll of close to
2,000. In 2010, almost all of Pakistan was affected when massive flooding caused by record
breaking rains hit Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The number of individuals affected by the
flooding exceeds the combined total of individuals affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean
tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. At least 2,000 people
died in this flood and almost 20 million people were affected by it.

2011 Floods:

These floods affected Sindh province, causing more than 500 deaths and direct loss of more
than 3730 million USD with more than 39000 houses and 5.3 million people affected. Flooded
area was 27,581 km2. In September 2011, at least 361 people were killed, some 5.3 million
people and 1.2 million homes affected as well 1.7 million acres of arable land inundated when
massive floods swept across the province of Sindh as a result of monsoon rains.

2012 Floods:

2012 floods in Pakistan resulted from heavy rainfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Upper Sindh,
Southern Punjab and Balochistan regions of Pakistan due to monsoon season in September.

Floods caused deaths of more than 500 people, direct losses of more than 2600 million USD,
affected more than 14000 houses and flooded area was 4,746 km2. In September 2012, more
than 100 people died, and thousands of homes destroyed, with thousands of acres of arable land
affected when intense rainfall battered Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Southern Punjab and Upper
Sindh.

1|Page
2013 Flood:

The floods/rains of 2013 effected cropped area of about 1.107 million acres, affecting 8297
villages, claiming about 33 lives, fully damaging 33763 houses and 46`180 houses partially and
a population of about 1.489 million was affected.

In Pakistan 80 deaths were reported as of 5 August; more than 30 other people were injured.
The death toll rose to 83 as of 13 August with more than 94 injured. Casualties spanned the
country.

2014 Flood:

In early September 2014, heavy rainfall in northern India and Pakistan resulted in widespread
flooding in Indian Jammu and Kashmir, and the Pakistan provinces of Azad Kashmir, Punjab,
Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and later Sindh province.

This was the fourth consecutive year of high-impact monsoon rains in Pakistan. 367 people
died in the disaster. Over 2.5 million people were affected by the flooding from over 4,000
villages. Nearly 700,000 people were evacuated, and the floods left over 100,000 homes
damaged.

Livelihoods were also damaged, in particular agriculture. In Punjab, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-
Baltistan, more than 2.4 million acres of crops have been lost and 9,000 cattle perished.

2015 Floods:

These floods, less severe than past 5 floods in Pakistan, also resulted from heavy rainfall. 238
people lost their lives due to floods and number of affected villages was 4634. Floods covered
an area of 2877 square kilometers. On 26 Apr, a severe storm in northwest Pakistan, dubbed a
"mini-cyclone", killed 45 people. Chitral District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been badly hit
with an estimated 285,000 people affected. Areas in Gilgit Baltistan, Punjab and Sindh are also
affected.

Result summary:

2010 flood:
People directly effected 20 million
Number of people died 2000
Cause of flood Heavy rain fall
Property damaged 43$ billion
Area effected 1/5 of area of Pakistan
2011 flood:
People directly effected 5.3 milion

2|Page
 Number of people died >500
Cause of flood Heavy rain fall
Property damaged 2730$ million
Area effected 27581 km2
2012 flood
People directly effected 5.3 milion
Number of people died >500
Cause of flood Heavy rain fall
Property damaged 2600$ million
Area effected 4746 km2
2013 flood:
People directly effected 1.489 million
Number of people died >100
Cause of flood Heavy rain fall
Property damaged 2000$ million
Area effected 4746 km2
2014 flood:
People directly effected 2.5 million
Number of people died 367
Cause of flood Heavy rain fall
Property damaged 2000$ million
Area effected 4746 km2

Personal view:

There have not been any floods in Pakistan in recently. Due Pakistan’s geographical position
and its exposure to the seasonal Monsoon Rainfalls, coupled with a lack of dams available for
the storage of the surplus water supplied to Pakistan by these seasonal rainfalls, Pakistan
remains susceptible to flooding. The federal government is aware of this issue and is actively
promoting the construction of two major dams in Pakistan. The completing of these dams shall
significantly increase Pakistan’s endurance to floods.

Question #02:Consequences of not constructing dams in Pakistan

Since series of floods occurrences in Pakistan, there is always a need of constructing dams to
prevent flooding and to store water. There are bad consequences of not constructing dams. If
no dam is built, there would be more floods in indus plane and also Pakistan will run out of
water till 2025. So there is a great need for constructing dams in Pakistan.

3|Page
Dams are important because they provide water for domestic, industry and irrigation purposes.
Dams often also provide hydroelectric power production and river navigation.

1- Flooding:

A lack of dams is the primary cause of flooding in Pakistan in the recent years. If dams are
not constructed in the future, then this trend of flooding due to monsoons shall continue. To
avid the loss of life and infrastructure, along with the financial strain n the economy, it is in
Pakistan’s best interest to invest in the construction of dams.

2- Droughts:
Dams act as water reservoirs for the country. They are essential to avoid droughts in the dry
seasons and to provide water to farmland. A lack of dams could mean more droughts in
Pakistan I the future, especially as the demand and consumption of water continues to
increase yearly.
3- Electricity Production:
Pakistan already struggles with power shortage. Dams are essential in generating electricity.
The power consumption in Pakistan continues to increase yearly. If dams are not
constructed in Pakistan, the power shortage of the country shall only increase.
4-Agriculture site:
Major population of Pakistan is dependent on agriculture. Pakistan, as already described,
can face water-crisis in the future. With such shortage of water, it is anticipated that
agricultural production may decrease by 16 million tons by the year 2020, leading towards
a grave famine-like situation, if timely action is not taken.

Flooding Drought

4|Page
Question #03:
The extent to which dams help Pakistan to ensure the life and water in this part of the
world for humans and living beings
More than 80 percent of water in Pakistan is considered unsafe. Meanwhile, in 2017, the
Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) announced that Pakistan would
run out of water by 2025.
According to Water Aid, Pakistan is one of the 36 most water-stressed countries in the world.
Pakistan is also in the top 10 of countries with the most people living without clean drinking
water. Currently, 16 million people in Pakistan have no other option than collecting unsafe
water for drinking and cleaning, leading to massive amounts of water-borne disease.
With 60 percent of Pakistan's population directly involved in the agricultural sphere, up to 95
percent of Pakistan's water is used in agriculture. However, it is estimated that 50 percent of the
water directed towards agricultural purposes is lost, due to defects in irrigation systems,
including misuse, defective canals, and leaking pipes.

While water supply and storage are shrinking, Pakistan's population is rapidly growing, placing
greater stress on the already taxed water system. Experts believe Pakistan's existing water policy
and systems will be unable to sustain the current levels of growth. Since, so many of Pakistan's
citizens rely on agriculture for gainful activity, water scarcity in Pakistan would spell economic
disaster and famine.

So to prevent Pakistan from these situations there is a great need of constructing dams. By
constructing the dams, the risk of run out of water till 2025 could be reduced, huge amount of
water lost in agricultural sphere will also decrease. Constructing dams will also stores surplus
amounts of water to prevent Pakistan from devastating impacts of floods and will ensure the
life and water in this part of the world for humans and living beings.

• Hydro power, a non-pollutant energy source

Pakistan is seeing energy crisis since a long time. Hydro power, a non-pollutant
environmental friendly source of energy, is the need of the hour for Pakistan.
Constructing new dams in Pakistan can help meet energy crisis and reduce the load-
shedding.
• Agriculture and industrial sector
Agriculture and industrial sector are backbone of any country’s economy. Dams are a
major source of water-supply to both of these sector. Apart from energy production, a
major use of the dams is to store water and use it for irrigation purposes. Shortage of

5|Page
 water in Tarbella and Mangla dam due to silting has reduced their storage capacity. As
a result, water available for irrigation has also reduced, therefore, necessiting the need
of new dams.
• Water supply
Dams can meet the water-supply needs of major cities. For example, already, the
drinking water is supplied to different areas of Karachi from Hab dam. Karachi, major
city of Pakistan, is facing drinking water problems. These problems can be overcome
by construction of water reservoirs.
• Flood control
Dams can prove to be very effective in controlling floods that occur every year causing
a major damage to the economy and loss of lives. Every year, due to floods, crops are
flooded away causing a major loss to the farmers, the agriculture sector. Therefore,
construction of dams can help controlling the floods as major part of overflowing water
from rivers gets stored in the reservoirs.
Question #04:
Can Kala Bagh Dam help in supporting the economy of Pakistan ?
Kalabagh Dam is a very widely and intensely debated topic in Pakistan. Kalabagh Dam is an
answer to our three problems, namely, shortage of water, shortage of electricity and devastating
effects of floods. This issue has been politicized all over the Pakistan. Politicians from all over
the Pakistan have always opposed the construction of Kalabagh Dam, by raising slogans of
“Drowning of Nowshehra” and “Drying of Sindh”.

Benefits

▪ Constructing Kalabagh Dam will produce 3600 MW electricity with annual

generation of 11400 GWh.
▪ It will help meet water needs for domestic and commercial zones.
▪ It will help in water supply for irrigation.
▪ Project will create new jobs.
▪ It would irrigate 800,000 acres of cultivable land that is located 100–150 feet
above the level of River Indus.

6|Page
 Question #05:

Write a technical report on Diamer Basha and Muhmand Dam?

Diamir Bhasha Dam

Location: On Indus River near Chilas ( KPK and Gilgi-Baltistan), 315 km u/s from Tarbela Dam and
about 40 Km downstream of Chilas Town
Following are some technical features of the dam:

❖ • This will be a Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Dam .

• Height of the Dam will be 272m.
• Gross storage capacity is expected to be 8.1 MAF (MillionAcre Feet) .
• Live storage capacity will be around 6.1 MAF
• Estimated cost of the project is USD 15bn..
❖ • Gross power generation capacity is estimated at 4,500MW
• Expected completion time is 14 years.

Salient Features

Dam Type Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC)

Spillways 14 no. of gates (11.5m*16.24m)

Height of Dam 272 m

Gross Storage Capacity 8.1 MAF

Live Storage Capacity 6.4 MAF

No. of units 12, each turbine of 375 MW

Power Generation 4500 MW

Annual Energy 18,097 GWh

7|Page
Execution by WAPDA

Supervision Consultants -

Contractor -

Commencement Date -

Completion Date 9 Years fter commencement

Financial Status Local (Rs.Million) FEC Total

(Rs.Million) (Rs.Million)

PC-I (Dam Part) 17-04-2018 325,686.000 154,000.000 479,000.000

PSDP Allocation FY 2017-18 23,680.350 - 23,680.350

Muhmand Dam

❖ Location: On Swat River, about 5 km upstream of Munda Head Works in Mohmand

Tribal District KP.
❖ Following table shows the technical stuff related to Muhmand Dam:

Salient Features

Dam Type Concrete faced rockfill

Height of Dam 700 ft (213 m)

Storage Capacity 1.293 MAF

Live Storage Capacity 0.676 MAF

8|Page
Power Generation 800 MW

Annual Energy 2,862 GWh

Cultivable Command Area 16,737 Acres (Left side 9,017 Acres, Right side 7,720 acres)

Execution by WAPDA

Consultants DESCON Pvt limited

Contractors M/s CGGGC-DESCON JV

Commencement Date March, 2019

Completion Date July, 2024

Financial Status Local (Rs. Million) FEC (Rs. Million) Total (Rs.
Million)

PC-I Cost (26-4-2018) 309,558.00 - 309,558.000

PSDP Allocation Fy 2018-19 17,000.00 - 17000.000

9|Page