India’s $60 billion river storage push raises alarm in Pakistan over flood, drought risks

India’s reported $60 billion investment in storage projects on the Jhelum and Chenab rivers has prompted concern in Pakistan, with officials warning that expanded upstream capacity could affect downstream water flows, according to a news report. 

At a recent federal-provincial dialogue on water storage, the chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) said India’s storage capacity on the two western rivers could increase from about 15 days to 55–60 days. Participants were told that such an increase could allow upstream regulation of flows for extended periods.

According to officials present at the briefing, the enhanced storage could create risks of reduced flows during critical crop seasons, while sudden releases during heavy rainfall or monsoon periods could heighten flood risks.

The Wapda chairman stressed the need for Pakistan to develop additional reservoirs to manage potential shocks, conserve surplus water and mitigate flood damage. Officials said repeated annual floodwaters flowing to the sea should be captured through improved storage infrastructure.

The meeting, held on February 17 and chaired by the Minister for Water Resources, was attended by representatives from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), along with federal and provincial officials.

Sindh’s irrigation minister and secretary cautioned that Pakistan is already facing water shortages and argued that existing river flows may not justify construction of large dams. They said lower riparian areas are not receiving sufficient water even under current conditions and called for detailed feasibility and economic studies before proceeding with new projects.

They also warned that projects developed in urgency may not provide viable long-term solutions, referencing previous large-scale investments.

The GB leadership proposed granting the region representation in the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), either as a member or observer, to ensure participation in national water decisions.

The AJK prime minister supported development of dams and hydropower projects in the region but called for financial incentives to ensure local communities benefit from such initiatives.

Punjab expressed support for new flood storage projects and offered discussions with Sindh to address reservations. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa urged early completion of the Chashma Right Bank Canal lift-cum-gravity project, stating it has been unable to fully utilise its water share without it. Wapda officials said tenders for the project had already been issued.