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ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP):The Punjab government is constructing 14 new small dams in the Rawalpindi division under a long-term plan to harvest rain and floodwater during the monsoon season and ensure improved water availability for agriculture, officials said.
Talking to Wealth Pakistan, Chief Engineer, Potohar Region, Punjab Irrigation Department, Muhammad Nawaz Bhatti said the dams are being developed under a 10-year strategy aimed at addressing water scarcity in rain-fed areas.
“We are currently working on 14 dams in the Rawalpindi division under a 10-year plan,” he said.
The construction of the dams is at various stages and progressing in line with the approved timelines.
He expressed optimism that the new infrastructure would help bring additional barren land under cultivation, contributing to improved agricultural output and food security.
The dams currently under construction include Papin Dam, Khori Dam, Sora Dam, Ahmad Dal Dam and Khor Dam, among others.
Data from the Punjab Irrigation Department show that 57 small dams have already been completed in the Potohar region, covering the districts of Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Attock and Jhelum.
These dams currently provide irrigation water to about 66,804 acres of barani (rain-fed) land. The ongoing projects are expected to further expand irrigation coverage to nearly 69,800 acres once completed.
In addition to Rawalpindi division, the Punjab government is also planning the construction of small dams in the DG Khan division to harness water from hill torrents originating in the Sulaiman Range.
These torrents frequently cause severe damage to crops and human settlements in the region. However, small dams in the DG Khan region require specialised designs and structures capable of withstanding powerful flash floods generated by hill torrents.
Separately, the provincial government has launched a programme to construct micro and mini dams in 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 Director of the Farm Water Management, Aamir Mushtaq, the government plans to construct hundreds of new mini dams in the Potohar region in phases to support agriculture and improve water availability.
He said a total of 400 mini dams are planned across the Rawalpindi division over the next three years, adding that such structures are particularly suitable for semi-arid and hilly regions where large dams are not feasible.
Mushtaq said the Punjab government is providing financial assistance to farmers for on-farm water storage, offering a 70 percent subsidy for the construction of mini dams on private farmland. “This support is aimed at improving irrigation access, strengthening climate resilience and promoting sustainable agriculture,” he said.
Water experts say small and mini dams are internationally recognised as effective rainwater harvesting tools, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.
Director of Water Resources at WWF-Pakistan, Sohail Ali Naqvi said small and mini dams—also known as check dams or percolation tanks—are widely used across South Asia in regions dependent on monsoon rainfall.
He said Punjab’s Potohar region is particularly suitable for small dams due to its undulating terrain, ephemeral streams and high variability in monsoon rainfall, making these structures a cost-effective solution for rainwater harvesting.