Islamabad: The Punjab government is constructing 14 new small dams across the Rawalpindi division as part of a long-term strategy to harvest rainwater and floodwater during the monsoon season, officials said. The initiative aims to improve water availability for agriculture and support sustainable farming in rain-fed areas.
Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, Chief Engineer of the Potohar Region, Punjab Irrigation Department, Muhammad Nawaz Bhatti, said the dams are being developed under a comprehensive 10-year plan to tackle water scarcity in the region. “We are currently working on 14 small dams in Rawalpindi division under this decade-long strategy,” he stated. The development is progressing at different stages, in line with the approved timelines.
Bhatti expressed optimism that the new infrastructure would enable additional barren lands to be cultivated, contributing to higher agricultural output and strengthening food security in the area. Among the dams currently under development are Papin Dam, Khori Dam, Sora Dam, Ahmad Dal Dam, and Khor Dam.
According to data from the Punjab Irrigation Department, 57 small dams have already been completed in the Potohar region, which covers the districts of Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Attock, and Jhelum. These completed dams currently provide irrigation water to approximately 66,804 acres of barani (rain-fed) land. Once the ongoing projects are finished, the total irrigation coverage is expected to rise to nearly 69,800 acres.
In addition to the Rawalpindi division, the Punjab government is also planning to construct small dams in the DG Khan division to capture water from hill torrents originating in the Sulaiman Range. These torrents frequently cause extensive damage to crops and local settlements. Dams in the DG Khan area, however, require specialized designs capable of withstanding powerful flash floods generated by these torrents.
Separately, the provincial government has launched a program to develop micro and mini dams across northern Punjab under the supervision of the Agency for Barani Areas Development (ABAD) and the Farm Management Directorate of the Punjab Agriculture Department. According to Aamir Mushtaq, Director of Farm Water Management, hundreds of new mini dams will be built in phases across the Potohar region to support agricultural development and enhance water security.
Mushtaq added that a total of 400 mini dams are planned for the Rawalpindi division over the next three years. These small-scale structures are especially suitable for semi-arid and hilly areas where the construction of large dams is impractical. The Punjab government is also providing financial assistance to farmers for on-farm water storage, offering a 70 percent subsidy for constructing mini dams on private farmland.
Experts say that small and mini dams are recognized globally as effective tools for rainwater harvesting, particularly in regions dependent on seasonal rainfall. Sohail Ali Naqvi, Director of Water Resources at WWF-Pakistan, said these dams, also known as check dams or percolation tanks, are widely used across South Asia in monsoon-dependent areas.
He added that the Potohar region of Punjab is particularly well-suited for such small-scale water storage projects due to its undulating terrain, ephemeral streams, and highly variable monsoon rainfall. These characteristics make small dams a cost-effective and practical solution for capturing and storing rainwater in the area.
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