Pakistan Dams Hit 58% Capacity as Monsoon Flood Warnings Intensify

Pakistan’s major reservoirs are 58 percent full as the country prepares for another spell of widespread monsoon rains, with authorities warning of an increased flood risk through July 25.

Officials from the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) told the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources that Tarbela Dam is 69 percent full, while Mangla Dam has reached 45 percent capacity. They said the country’s overall water storage situation remains manageable despite rising river flows.

According to the FFC, the Chenab River is currently experiencing high flows following recent rainfall, although water levels remain below the danger mark. Meanwhile, Sindh and the Jhelum River are facing low flood conditions.

The committee was also informed that India has stopped sharing flood-related data with Pakistan following its unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, limiting Islamabad’s access to upstream river information.

Indus Waters Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah said Pakistan has received no indication that India has released additional water into shared rivers. However, officials said the FFC is now relying on alternative sources and its own monitoring systems to track water levels because official Indian websites are inaccessible in Pakistan.

Lawmakers voiced concern over reports of Indian dam operations and stressed the need to strengthen Pakistan’s flood forecasting and early warning systems.

Officials noted that the country’s existing reservoirs can absorb only around 20 percent of flood flows, limiting their ability to prevent downstream flooding during major rain events.

The committee was informed that between July 2 and July 20, Pakistan experienced multiple flood-related incidents, including glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), flash floods, cloudbursts, and riverbank erosion across Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab.

With another round of heavy monsoon rainfall forecast across much of the country, Senator Jam Saifullah Khan sought details of the government’s preparedness to deal with the evolving flood threat. The committee also directed senior irrigation officials from Punjab and Sindh to attend future meetings in person after expressing displeasure over one official joining the session via video link.