Canal System of Pakistan

Canal System of Pakistan

Canal is an artificial waterway constructed for purposes of irrigation, drainage, or navigation, or in connection with a hydroelectric dam.Canal is the thing which brings river water close to the field where it is required to be.The canals come out of rivers, dams, and barrages. The irrigation system of Pakistan is one of the best one in the world due to the largest irrigation system in the world. In Pakistan, almost 75% of the land which is in agricultural use is covered by the irrigation system. Currently there are 3 large dams and 85 small dams, along with these dams there are 19 barrages to fulfill the water need. From these dams and barrages 12 inter link canals, 45 canals have been taken to provide water to the fields. To utilize ground water 0.7 million tube wells have been installed. In Pakistan canals are the most popular means of irrigation as they supply plenty of water at very cheap rates.

Types of canals 

There are three main important types of canals in Pakistan:

• Perennial Canals
• Non-Perennial Canals
• Inundation Canals 

Perennial Canals

These canals supply water throughout the year. Perennial canals are the canals that are used to supply water to the field and these are taken either from dams or barrages. Important Perennial Canals of Punjab are Upper Bari Doab, Lower Bari Doab, Sidhnai Canals, Upper and Lower Chenab, Upper Jhelum canals originating from Trimmu Headworks and Canals originating from river Sutlej at Ferozpur, Islam, Suleimanki and Panjnad Headworks.

Non-Perennial Canals:

  These canals run during the summer and the rainy season. Sidhnai canals from the Ravi, Haveli canals from the Chenab and some of the Sultlej canals fall in this category.

Inundation Canals:

     These canals run only during the rainy season when water level in river rises. The quantity of water they supply is uncertain. These canals, like other canals, are taken from the rivers but the difference is that they get water when there is a rise in the water level due to flood. Many old canals from the Indus and the Chenab fall in this category

NOTE: canals come out of river

River in the Pakistan:

• Chenab River
• Dasht River
• Dashtiari River
• Gambila River
• Ghaggar-Hakra River
• Gilgit River
• Gomal River
• Hub River
• Hungol River
• Hunza River
• Indus River
• Jhelum River
• Kabul River
• Swaan River
• Kundar River
• Kunhar River
• Kurram River
• Lyari River
• Malir River
• Panjkora River
• Panjnad River
• Ravi River
• Shigar River
• Sutleg River
• Swat River
• Tochi River
• Zhob River

Famous river in pakistan:

• River Ravi
• River Chenab
• River Jhelum
• River Sutluj
• River Indus

Indus water treaty

In 1947, when Punjab was divided between the two countries, many of the canal head-works remained with India. The division of Punjab thus created major problems for irrigation in Pakistan.

On April 1, 1948, India stopped the supply of water to Pakistan from every canal flowing from India to Pakistan. Pakistan protested and India finally agreed on an interim agreement on May 4, 1948. This agreement was not a permanent solution; therefore, Pakistan approached the World Bank in 1952 to help settle the problem permanently. Negotiations were carried out between the two countries through the offices of the World Bank. It was finally in Ayub Khan's regime that an agreement was signed between India and Pakistan in September 1960. This agreement is known as the Indus Water Treaty.

This treaty divided the use of rivers and canals between the two countries. Pakistan obtained exclusive rights for the three western rivers, namely Indus, Jehlum and Chenab. And India retained rights to the three eastern rivers, namely Ravi, Beas and Sutluj. The treaty also guaranteed ten years of uninterrupted water supply. During this period Pakistan was to build huge dams, financed partly by long-term World Bank loans and compensation money from India. Three multipurpose dams, Warsak, Mangla and Tarbela were built. A system of eight link canals was also built, and the remodeling of existing canals was carried out. Five barrages and a gated siphon were also constructed under this treaty.

Important Canals of Pakistan

River Indus, Jhelum and Chenab are the math sources of water for Pakistan. These rivers have maximum quantity of water during summer but minimum during winter season 84% of the total water flows in these rivers in summer.

The Canals of River Ravi

Upper Bari Doab (originates from Madhupur headworks in India) and Lower Bari Doab (originates from the Balloki Headworks) are two important canals of river Ravi. These canals are very important for the production of summer crops. The upper Bari Doab is and old canal which was constructed in 1868. Apart from this the Sidhnai Canal rises from the left bank of the Ravi where the Headworks have been built at Sidhnai.

The Canals of River Chenab

The Upper Chenab flows from the Marala Weir in the Sialkot district and Lower Chenab flows from the Khanki weir and irragates a vast wheat and cotton area of Rachna Doab. The haveli system of canals is also located in this Doab that comes out from Trimmu Head Works.

The Canals of River Jhelum

Chaj Doab has two important canals i.e. Upper Jhelum and Lower Jhelum. The upper Jhelum canal originates at the Mangla Weir in Jhelum district. It joins the Chenab at Khanki and gives its surplus water to lower Chenab Canal. The Lower Jhelum canal flows from the River Jhelum at the Rasul Weir in district Gujrat.These canals irrigate a large part of the Triple Canal Project and have increased agricultural production. These two canals along with lower Ban Doab link the three rivers i.e. Jhelum Chenab and Ravi.

The Canals of River Sutlej

There are three Head Works on river Sutlej i.e. Feroze-Wala, Sulaimanki and Islam, whereas fourth is on the Puhjnad. These canals irrigate the area of Nili Bar and Bahawalpur.

The Canals of River Indus

The canals from Jinnah Barrage near Kalabagh irrigate the desert area of Thar for agricultural purpose. Districts of D.G. Khan and D.I. Khan are irrigated by a link canal from Chashma barrage, Taunsa barrage and Guddu barrage also have canals which irrigate vast areas. At Sukkur Barrage four canals flow from the right bank and three from the left bank of the river Indus. Following are imporatant canals from river Indus for NWFP.

• The Canal of River Swat.
• The Canal from Swat River Irrigates.
• The Peshawar area.
• The Warsak Project.

A project in the north west of Peshawar at Warsak is important for the local requirements of the region.

Punjab Rivers and barrages/headworks: 

Indus: Chashma, Taunsa

Jhelum: Rasul

Chenab: Marala, Khanki, Qadirabad, Trimmu

Ravi: Balloki, Sidhnai

Sutlej: Sulaimanki, Islam

Punjnad: Punjnad

River link canals in Punjab and rivers linked:

Chashma-Jhelum Link: Indus-Jhelum

Taunsa-Punjnad Link: Indus-Chenab

Rasul-Qadirabad Link: Jhelum-Chenab

Marala-Ravi Link: Chenab-Ravi

Bambanwala-Ravi-Bedian Link: Chenab-Ravi-Sutlej

Upper Chenab-Balloki Link: Chenab-Ravi

Qadirabad-Balloki Link: Chenab-Ravi

Trimmu-Sidhnai Link: Chenab-Ravi

Balloki-Sulaimanke Link: Ravi-Sutlej

Sidhnai-Mailsi Link: Ravi-Sutlej

The link canals have a total length of about 800 Km with a total capacity of about 100,000 cusecs. These canals transport water from the three western rivers to the three eastern rivers which run short of water as their water has been alloted to India.