Soan Dam: A Proposed Mega Reservoir Project in the Pothohar Region
🗺️ Location
Soan Dam is proposed at Dhok Pathan, located in the Chakwal District of the Pothohar Plateau, Punjab, Pakistan (Murree foothills region) .It would be built across the Soan River, which drains the plateau and flows into the Indus near Makhad .
🧩 Project Overview
- Status: Proposed (not yet under construction)
- First surveyed: by the World Bank in 1955; later revisited in decades that followed .
- Estimated cost: approximately US $7 billion .
🌊 Storage & Generation Capacity
- Water storage: estimated 38‑48 million acre‑feet (MAF) (≈ 47 km³), which is 8–10 times the capacity of Tarbela or Basha dams.
- Hydropower: proposed installed capacity of 5,240 MW .
🎯 Key Objectives & Benefits
1. Water Security & Climate Resilience
By capturing excess monsoon flows and floodwaters—often wasted into the Arabian Sea—the dam aims to address rampant water scarcity in central Pakistan (where current reservoirs store only ~30 days’ supply versus 900 in the US) .
2. Flood Control
Soan Dam would function as a carry-over reservoir, reducing flood peaks in Nowshera Valley, southern Punjab, and Sindh by diverting upstream Indus floodwaters via an Indus‑Soan canal during extreme rain events .
3. Agriculture & Irrigation
Ample stored water could support year-round irrigation, boosting farm yields and improving rural livelihoods in the Chakwal & Pothohar region.
4. Urban Water Supply
The dam could supply Rawalpindi–Islamabad and nearby housing developments—areas facing serious urban water shortages—with reliable fresh water diverted from the Indus upstream of Tarbela via a ~100 km feeder canal .
5. Hydropower & Economic Returns
With an output exceeding 5,000 MW, plus sediment-flushing canals to extend Tarbela’s life and generate additional power, Soan Dam could deliver significant economic gains (some estimates cite > US $90 billion) .
6. Groundwater Recharge & Ecology
By regulating flow and replenishing seasonal rivers, Soan Dam can recharge groundwater, support aquatic biodiversity, and prevent river desiccation in Pothohar .
⚙️ Technical Features & Design Highlights
- Dam type: earth‑fill embankment, likely situated at 405–427 m above sea level (MASL) to optimize storage (~45 MAF possible).
- Link canal: ~100 km feeder channel from Indus, enabling Tarbela sediment flushing via a side‑valley storage system .
- Reduced displacement: reservoir area is sparsely populated, affecting far fewer residents compared to larger dams like Diamer‑Basha or Kalabagh.
🔑 Why Soan Dam Matters
Pakistan ranks among the most water-stressed countries globally, and is prone to climate extremes. The proposed Soan Dam offers multi-sector solutions: supplying water, preventing floods, generating power, and stimulating economic growth. Delays and indecision have cost opportunities, with recent floods in Rawalpindi‑Islamabad underscoring the need for storage infrastructure .
| Feature | Proposed Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Dhok Pathan, Chakwal, Pothohar Plateau |
| Status | Proposed (not under construction) |
| Storage Capacity | ~38–48 MAF (≈47 km³) |
| Hydropower Potential | ~5,240 MW |
| Canal Link | ~100 km feeder canal from Indus |
| Primary Benefits | Water security, flood mitigation, power, irrigation, urban supply |
| First Survey | 1955 by World Bank |
| Cost Estimate | ~US $7 billion |
