Pakistan is a country rich in water resources, yet its hydropower sector has faced significant challenges.pdf

Pakistan is a country rich in water resources, yet its hydropower sector has faced significant challenges and stagnation for over a decade, with limited progress in harnessing this potential. Despite this, the government is actively working to attract private investors to boost hydropower generation. Hydropower is a crucial domestic energy source.

1. PAKISTAN IS A COUNTRY RICH IN WATER RESOURCES

2. •Pakistan is a country rich in water resources, yet its hydropower sector has
faced significant challenges and stagnation for over a decade, with limited
progress in harnessing this potential. Despite this, the government is actively
working to attract private investors to boost hydropower generation.
Hydropower is a crucial domestic energy source, and Pakistan possesses an
estimated hydropower potential of approximately 41,722 MW,
predominantly located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Northern Areas, Azad
Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab regions.

3. •Electric power is vital for the socio-economic development of Pakistan. However, only
about half of the population has access to electricity. Since its independence,
Pakistan has struggled with electricity shortages. Hydropower development in the
Indo-Pak subcontinent began in 1925 with the construction of the Renala1 MW
hydropower station, followed by the 1.7 MW Malakand-I station, later upgraded to
20 MW. In 1953, the 20 MW Dargaihydropower station was commissioned. At the
time of independence, Pakistan had a modest power base of only 60 MW for its
31.5 million people. By the time the Water and Power Development Authority
(WAPDA) was established in 1958, the country's total hydropower capacity had
increased to 119 MW.

4. •Following the Indus Water Treaty in 1960, Pakistan secured rights to 142 MAF of
water (Indus 93, Jhelum 23, and Chenab 26). This led to the construction of
significant hydropower projects such as the 240 MW Warsak, 1000 MW Mangla,
and 3478 MW Tarbeladams.
•Electricity is essential for economic activities, yet Pakistan's current installed
hydropower capacity stands at approximately 6,595 MW, with 3,767 MW in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,698 MW in Punjab, 1,036 MW in Azad Jammu and Kashmir,
and 93 MW in the Northern Areas. Despite this, a substantial portion of the country's
hydropower potential remains untapped and requires development.

5. •Pakistan's hydropower resources are primarily concentrated in the north, while
the southern regions have limited hydropower potential. A detailed overview
of Pakistan's total hydropower potential is provided in Appendix-I, divided
into six sectoral regions.