Tarbela Dam Reaches Maximum Water Storage Capacity

Pakistan's water conservation capacity received a substantial boost on Sunday as Tarbela Dam, the country's second-largest water reservoir, reached its maximum capacity of 1,550 feet. Reports from Dawn Pakistan indicate that official measurements from the Flood Forecasting Division of the Pakistan Meteorological Department placed the level at 1,549.48 feet by 6:00 p.m., up from 1,549 feet measured earlier in the morning.

The steady accumulation of water in the reservoir is largely driven by ongoing seasonal high flows generated by monsoon rains and melting snow in upstream catchment areas. Tarbela Dam operates with a minimum dead level of 1,402 feet, and the latest figures put its live storage volume at 5.523 Million-Acre Feet (MAF).

Historical records show that on the same date in past years, Tarbela had attained 90 percent and 96 percent of its total filling capacity, respectively.

Simultaneously, water levels at Mangla Dam—the nation's largest reservoir—are rising rapidly. By Sunday, the conservation level at Mangla had mounted to 1,206.45 feet, leaving it approximately 35.50 feet below its maximum capacity of 1,242 feet.

With a minimum operating baseline set at 1,050 feet, Mangla recorded a live water storage of 4.621 MAF on Sunday. The combined growth in reserves across both reservoirs reinforces the country's water outlook for agricultural and power generation needs.