China withdraws $2.4 billion in loans over two years: Gift

 by web desk

China withdraws $2.4 billion in loans over two years: Gift

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday that China's Export-Import (Exim) Bank was repaying $2.4 billion in loans over the next two years.

"China's EXIM Bank has rescheduled for 2 years the principal of the following loans totaling US$2.4 billion due in the next 2 fiscal years," he announced in a tweet.

The minister said the extension for this year is $1.2 billion and $1.2 billion for next year.

"Pakistan will pay interest only in both years," the finance minister said.

Last week, China agreed to restructure more than $2 billion of Pakistan's publicly guaranteed debt over a two-year period, providing major relief to the government, which is in the process of restoring foreign exchange reserves through new loans and rolling over maturing debt.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved the revised terms of the agreement reached between Islamabad and Beijing, according to senior Pakistani officials.

Time and again, China has helped Pakistan meet its debt obligations by providing new loans and transferring existing debt. China refinanced $1.3 billion of its commercial loans early in June, helping Pakistan avoid defaulting on its international debt obligations during a period when the International Monetary Fund program was suspended.

Following the signing of the new IMF program, Pakistan's gross official foreign exchange reserves have returned to $8.7 billion – from a critically low level of $4.5 billion before the IMF deal.

Russia launches lunar lander in race to find water at Moon's south pole

 by webdesk

Russia launches lunar lander in race to find water at Moon's south pole

The lander is expected to land on the moon on August 21, 2023

_______________________________________

MOSCOW:

Russia launched its first lunar landing spacecraft in 47 years on Friday in a bid to become the first nation to make a soft landing at the moon's south pole, an area believed to contain coveted pockets of water ice.

Russia's lunar mission, its first since 1976, is competing with India, which launched its Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander last month, and more broadly with the United States and China, both of which have developed advanced lunar exploration programs aimed at the moon's south pole.

A Soyuz 2.1 rocket carrying the Luna-25 craft lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, 3,450 miles (5,550 km) east of Moscow, at 2:11 a.m. Moscow time (1111 GMT Thursday) on Friday.

The lander was boosted from Earth orbit toward the moon more than an hour later when the craft took over mission control, Russia's Roskosmos space agency said.

The lander is expected to land on the moon on August 21, Russian cosmonautics chief Yuri Borisov told state television, although the space agency previously set August 23 as the landing date.

"Now we will wait for the 21st. I hope that there will be a very precise soft landing on the moon," Borisov told Vostochny Cosmodrome workers after the launch. “We hope to be the first.

Luna-25, about the size of a small car, will aim to operate for a year at the moon's south pole, where scientists from NASA and other space agencies have discovered traces of water ice in shadowed craters in the region in recent years.

Much is riding on the Luna-25 mission as the Kremlin says Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine, many of which have targeted Moscow's aerospace sector, have failed to cripple Russia's economy.

The lunar shot, which Russia has been planning for decades, will also test the country's growing independence in space after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 severed nearly all of Moscow's space ties with the West, except for its integral role on the International Space Station.

The European Space Agency had planned to test its Pilot-D navigation camera by docking with Luna-25, but cut ties to the project after Russia invaded Ukraine.

"Russian aspirations for the moon are a mix of a lot of different things. I think first and foremost it's an expression of national power on the global stage," Asif Siddiqi, a history professor at Fordham University, told Reuters.

American astronaut Neil Armstrong became famous in 1969 for being the first man to walk on the moon, but the Soviet Union's Luna-2 mission was the first spacecraft to reach the moon's surface in 1959, and Luna-9 in 1966 was the first. to have a soft landing.

Moscow then focused on Mars exploration, and since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has not sent scientific probes beyond Earth orbit.

For centuries, astronomers have wondered about water on the moon, which is 100 times drier than the Sahara. NASA maps in 2018 showed water ice in shadowed parts of the Moon, and in 2020 NASA confirmed that water also exists in sunlit regions.

Major powers such as the United States, China, India, Japan and the European Union have all explored the moon in recent years. Last year, the Japanese moon landing failed, and in 2019, the Israeli mission failed.

No country has made a soft landing at the South Pole. India's Chandrayaan-2 mission failed in 2019.

The rough terrain makes it difficult to land, but the prize for the discovery of water ice could be historic: a large one could be used to extract fuel and oxygen, as well as drinking water.

Borisov said that at least three more lunar missions are planned over the next seven years, and that after that Russia and China will work on a possible manned lunar mission.

"I and my colleagues from China will move on to the next phase - the possibility of a manned mission to the moon and the construction of a lunar base," he said.

Maxim Litvak, head of the planning group for the Luna-25 science facility, said the most important task is to land where no one else has - and find water.

"There are signs of ice in the soil of the Luna-25 landing pad," he said, adding that Luna-25 will operate on the moon for at least one Earth year and collect samples.

Roskosmos said the trip to the moon would take five days. The craft will spend 5-7 days in lunar orbit before descending to one of three possible landing sites near the pole — a timeline that suggests it could match or narrowly beat its Indian rival on the lunar surface.

Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled to undergo experiments for two weeks.

Weighing 1.8 tons and carrying 31 kg (68 lb) of scientific equipment, Luna-25 will use a scoop to take rock samples from up to 15 cm (6 in) deep to test for the presence of frozen water.

New tax rates imposed on real estate transactions in Punjab Pakistan

 by web desk

New tax rates imposed on real estate transactions in Punjab, Pakistan

New tax rates have been introduced for the sale and purchase of real estate in Punjab as the Punjab Land Authority (PLRA) has issued a directive to all revenue officers to enforce tax collection from both buyers and sellers based on the revised tax rates.

The PLRA's move comes in response to changes introduced by the Finance Act, 2023, which include adjustments to income tax rates and related provisions of sections 236C and 236K of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

Under the previous tax regime, individuals involved in real estate transactions were subject to tax rates of 2 percent for registrants and 4 percent for non-registrants under section 236C. However, the revised rates now set a sales, transfer and disposal tax rate of 3 per cent for registrants and 6 per cent for non-registrants.

Section 236K, which refers to real estate purchases, was similarly amended. Previously, users who signed up had to pay 3 percent in taxes, while those who didn't sign up were taxed at a rate of 7 percent. Under the new provisions, tax rates remain at 3 percent for those who register, but those who are not registered are now subject to a higher tax rate of 10.5 percent for property purchases.

The changes came into effect on July 1, 2023 and aim to streamline the taxation process related to real estate transactions. However, failure to comply with the revised tax rates and provisions could lead to legal consequences as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is empowered to recover any irregularities found on inspection by the transferring authorities.

A Punjab Revenue official informed this scribe that the aim of these adjustments is to bring the tax rates in line with the current economic realities while ensuring that revenue collection remains efficient and fair.

“These changes underline the government's ongoing efforts to increase revenue generation and ensure a fair tax system in the real estate sector. The new tax rates will play a key role in shaping real estate transactions across Punjab and are expected to have a significant impact on the local real estate market.

Denmark to tighten border controls after Holy Qoran desecration.

 by web

Denmark to tighten border controls after Holy Qoran desecration.

The Danish authorities also follow after Sweden decided to introduce new restrictions

Danish police are tightening border controls after the recent desecration of the Holy Qoran affected the security situation, the justice ministry said late Thursday, following a similar decision by Sweden earlier in the week. Anti-Islam activists in Denmark and Sweden have burned and damaged several copies of the holy book in recent months, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and demanding that governments ban such acts.

"The authorities have concluded today that it is necessary at this time to focus more on who is entering Denmark in order to respond to specific and current threats," the Danish ministry said in a statement. Tighter border controls will initially be in place until August 10, she said.

"The recent burning of the qoran, as reported by the security police, has affected the current security situation," Justice Minister Peter Hum Melgaard said in a statement.

The decision to tighten border controls with more checks on travelers arriving in Denmark follows a similar move by Sweden. Both governments have condemned the burnings and said they are considering new laws to stop them. But domestic critics say any such rulings would undermine free speech, which is protected in their constitutions.

demark, #Quran # holy quran

#sweden #protest against denmark

5 International Fully Funded Scholarships for Pakistani Students

 by marana

5 International Fully Funded Scholarships for Pakistani Students

Are you a Pakistani student aspiring to study abroad but facing financial constraints? There are several fully funded scholarships available that can help you achieve your academic goals. Below are the top five international awards that Pakistani students can apply for and pursue their higher education.

1-DAAD Scholarship, Germany

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides scholarships to more than 100,000 German and international students and researchers every year. The awards are primarily intended for graduates, doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows for study and research activities.

In addition, some programs have funded internships, which provide a great opportunity to excel in your career. Applicants must demonstrate a strong academic background and research interests to be considered for the scholarship.

This is a fully funded scholarship covering your tuition fees, health insurance, research allowance, accommodation allowance and much more. Click the link for more information.

https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/scholarships/daad-scholarships/

2- Gates Cambridge Scholarship, United Kingdom

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the University of Cambridge UK. It is one of the most prestigious scholarship programs, providing funding to 80 outstanding applicants.

Candidates pursuing postgraduate studies (Masters or Ph.D.) in any subject at the University of Cambridge are eligible to apply. Students must demonstrate leadership skills and superior intellectual ability. Click the link to learn more.

3-McCall MacBain Scholarships, Canada

The McCall MacBain Scholarship is Canada's prestigious master's-level funding program that provides students with the mentorship, interdisciplinary education and global community they need to strengthen their impact on the world.

30 full scholarships and 100 entry prizes are offered for Masters or professional studies at McGill University in Canada. This fully funded opportunity covers tuition fees for the full duration of the course, provides a monthly stipend of $2,000 and a one-time relocation grant for moving to Montreal.

4-SINGA Scholarship Program, Singapore

The SINGA program is a collaboration between the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore Management University (SMU) in Singapore.

It provides an opportunity to study and do a Ph.D. in one of the rapidly changing and advanced environments in the most beautiful countries in the world. The scholarship covers full tuition, a one-time settlement grant and a monthly stipend of $2,200.

https://www.a-star.edu.sg/Scholarships/for-graduate-studies/singapore-international-graduate-award-singa

5-Knight Hennessy Scholarship, USA

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program is a prestigious scholarship opportunity for talented international graduate students who wish to continue their studies at the prestigious Stanford University in the USA.

The program is highly competitive and seeks bright minds demonstrating leadership skills and academic excellence. The price is fully funded and covers everything. Students must apply to one of the graduate programs at Stanford University to be considered eligible for the program

Check out the dates of these opportunities for 2024 and apply to make your study abroad dreams come true. these are fully funded scholarships for Pakistani students. please join this site for more and more opportunity for youngsters in upcoming days.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that POL prices may rise by Rs 19.95 per litre.

 by web

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that crude oil prices were rising by a whopping Rs 19.95 per litre.

The minister said the decision was taken "in the national interest" as he announced that the cost of high-speed diesel (HSD) was increasing by Rs 19.90 to Rs 273.40 per litre, while the cost of petrol was hiked. by Rs 19.95 to Rs 272.95 per litre.

Dar also said the new rates should be effective immediately. Dar explained that the increase was due to the increase in prices in the international market in the last 15 days.

He also stressed that his team tried to "work" on the recommendations of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) until late at night, but found themselves with their backs against the wall.

"The basic reason for the delay in the announcement was that we were looking at whether there are ways to reduce the price, whether there is any scope for that," he said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also taken into confidence and that the approval came, albeit reluctantly .

“We all know that the international commitments that we have with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on oil taxes, if they were not there, we would have announced either a partial adjustment or whatever the prime minister saw fit to give a lower increase. ", he said, "but everyone knows we have a standby contract. He also pointed out that it was the previous PTI government's decision to renege on its promises with the IMF that harmed the country's national interests.

Pakistan's stock market soared more than 1,000 points, to a two-year high crossed 48,000 points

 business report:

Pakistan's stock market soared more than 1,000 points, to a two-year high crossed 48,000 points  in early trade on Monday.

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) maintained a strong rally due to "investment optimism from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates along with the Pakistan Minerals Summit helping investor confidence,".

Saudi Arabia has been in talks with Barrick Gold to invest in Pakistan's multi-billion dollar copper reserves. The investment can help the country earn much-needed US dollars and build foreign exchange reserves.

Besides, the Chinese Vice Premier arrived in Islamabad for a two-day visit to mark the 10-year anniversary of CPEC. This is another positive development for Pakistan where a lot of good and bad is happening at the global level.

The strong rally on the PSX was also attributed to the expected announcement of the new benchmark interest rate by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for the next six weeks today (Monday).

Financial experts are divided on whether the bank will raise rates by 100 basis points or leave them unchanged at the current all-time high of 22%.

Since Pakistan received the latest $3 billion credit facility from the IMF in June 2023, the market has risen about 16% or 6,600 points year-to-date, according to Arif Habib Limited.

Pakistan's assemblies are also due to dissolve next month ahead of general elections later this year.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged an unwavering commitment to the recent $3 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), ensuring that the interim arrangement that will take over after his government's tenure will also fully comply with the agreement.

Pakistan's salaried class paid Rs 264.3 billion in income tax, nearly 200% more than exporters and retailers.

 by webdesk

Pakistan's salaried class paid Rs 264.3 billion in income tax, nearly 200% more than exporters and retailers combined.

Data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) showed that salaried individuals paid Rs 264.3 billion in taxes during the fiscal year 2022-23. The amount paid by the salaried class in taxes up to the 35% rate was over Rs 75 billion or 40% higher than the previous year.

Wage earners were the fourth largest contributors to withholding taxes after suppliers, bank depositors and importers. FBR has not released these numbers officially yet.

In the last budget, the government increased taxes on the salaried class, which also became the reason for higher tax collection. Despite high taxation on the salaried class along with record high inflation, the government has once again increased taxes on salaried people earning more than Rs 200,000 per month in this budget. Meanwhile, about 5,000 retailers have eased their registration conditions.

During the last fiscal year, the FBR collected over Rs 2 trillion in withholding taxes, which was equal to 61% of the total income tax generated by the FBR in the previous fiscal year. However, details indicated that collection of withholding tax, especially at double rates from non-filers, has become an easy source of revenue collection for the FBR.

Chasing existing taxpayers for more while allowing the informal sector to grow is akin to killing the goose that lays the golden egg, according to the Salaried Class Alliance. The maximum amount of income tax has been collected from suppliers, savings account holders, importers and salaried persons, electricity bills of non-filers, telephone and mobile phone users and dividend income, data compiled by the FBR shows. Other major revenue pegs were taxes on the purchase and sale of real estate, exports, foreign income tax, brokerage commissions, and car registration.

However, according to provisional figures, exporters and retailers combined pay Rs 175 billion less in taxes than the salary class. The total income tax paid by exporters and retailers was Rs 89.5 billion in the last fiscal year, which was Rs 175 billion or 196% less than the income tax paid by individuals.

Exporters, who earned $27.7 billion in the last fiscal year, paid a paltry 74 billion rupees in taxes. Their tax share was 17.4% higher than the previous year, but less than the increase in their rupee income. Exporters pay only 1% of their gross receipts in income tax. However, representatives of the exporters claimed that their effective rate is almost equal to the maximum grade rate of 35%. The claim has not been independently verified.

Debt profit collection jumped 106% to Rs 320 billion in the last fiscal year. The increase suggests the impact of higher interest rates and people's tendency to save money. Banks charge 10% to 50% income tax rate on behalf of FBR on these savings accounts

Similarly, at the rate of 0.5% advance tax on sales to retailers, the FBR collected just Rs 15.6 billion from retailers in the last fiscal year. It was probably the lowest contribution of any income group. The share of retail and wholesale trade in the total size of the economy was around 19%, but their share of total income tax was only 0.4%.

Importers paid Rs 290 billion in income tax on various types of imports – they are the third largest contributor of withholding taxes.

The IMF also unfairly puts more burden on the salary class, which, unlike exporters and retailers, has no voice in the corridors of power.

Tax collection from suppliers and service providers jumped 3% to Rs 391 billion in the last fiscal year. Even though it is the biggest boss of income tax collection, FBR has no role in it.

International Monetary Fund IMF criticizes the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for the inflation curve.

 by web desk

International Monetary Fund IMF criticizes the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for the inflation curve

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slammed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for its delayed response in dealing with inflationary pressures from 2020, saying monetary policy has fallen behind the curve. Following the approval of the US$3 billion standby program for Pakistan, the IMF staff report highlighted that the SBP's loose monetary policy conditions and several pauses in the rate tightening cycle had contributed to unanchored inflation expectations, resulting in five-decade high inflation.

To combat persistent inflation, the IMF urged the SBP to maintain a tight, proactive and data-driven monetary policy. The recent hike in key interest rates has been welcomed, but further tightening may be necessary to reduce inflation and achieve the SBP's medium-term inflation targets. The IMF emphasized the need for stronger independence of the SBP and the gradual introduction of refinancing schemes to improve the traction and transparency of monetary policy.

While some authorities remained optimistic about the easing of inflationary pressures, the IMF forecast increased inflation, mainly due to delayed monetary tightening measures. The report said inflation is expected to remain above 25 percent in FY24, with a gradual slowdown in subsequent years.

In the past six months, rising food prices, exchange rate depreciation and a lack of supply have contributed to soaring inflation, which has greatly affected the vulnerable population. The SBP's actions were perceived as lacking clarity, with rate hikes occurring sporadically.

Experts have acknowledged the stubborn nature of inflation in Pakistan, attributing it to various factors such as depreciation, supply shocks caused by natural disasters such as floods, fiscal slippages and delayed responses to monetary policy tightening. To effectively deal with inflation, they suggested maintaining a real positive interest rate and solving fiscal and administrative problems along with a focus on expenditure management, productivity and economic efficiency.

It is clear that controlling inflation requires a comprehensive and innovative approach involving both monetary and fiscal measures to stabilize the economy and protect people's well-being.

Barrages and headworks in Pakistan. 16 major barrages.

 

Barrages and headworks in Pakistan.

Pakistan is an agricultural country. It has the world’s largest irrigation system, which is called the Indus Basin Irrigation System.

Mainly in Pakistan, the flood method of irrigation is used that requires a considerable quantity of water. For these purposes, barrages are essential in this country. There are 16 large barrage in Pakistan.

1) Sukkur Barrage.

The Sukkur Barrage, formerly known as Lloyd Barrage, is located near the city of Sukkur in Sindh. The British Raj built it from 1923 to 1932. It is the largest irrigation network of its kind globally and irrigates nearly all parts of the province.

The barrage stretches from Sukkur district in the north to Mirpurkhas/Tharparkar and Hyderabad districts in the south. It is around 500 kilometres (300 miles) northeast of Karachi. The barrage is located 5 kilometres (3 miles) below the railway bridge, known as the Sukkur Gorge. It has significantly improved the water supply for existing cultivated areas in Sindh.

2) Guddu Barrage,

Guddu Barrage is located in the Kashmore district of Sindh. It is also constructed on the Indus River. This barrage was completed in 1962.

Furthermore, the Guddu barrage provides water supplies to vast areas of Sindh and Balochistan for irrigation and drinking purposes. It is also used to control floods.

Moreover, this barrage supplies water to 2.9 million acres of land. It feeds four canals, namely Ghotki feeder, Rainee feeder, Begari, and Phat feeders.

This barrage has 64 gates that 18 feet long. It has a span of 1400 meters. The discharge capacity of this barrage is 1.2 million cusecs.

3) Kotri Barrage

Kotri Barrage is situated in Jamshoro district near Hyderabad. It is also called Ghulam Muhammad Barrage. This barrage is built on the Indus River.

Moreover, the construction of the Kotri barrage was completed in 1955. It has a discharge capacity of 8,75000 cubic feet per second.

Furthermore, the Kotri barrage is 1,600 meters long and has 44 gates. Each gate of this barrage is 18 feet wide. This is a gate-controlled barrage with a navigation lock, and its design is weir type. This barrage feeds three canals: Fuleli Canal, Pinyari Canal, and Kalri Baghar Canal. Thus, it irrigates almost the whole of lower Sindh.

4) Jinnah Barrage

The Jinnah Barrage is located near Kalabagh. It is part of the Thal Project. The project helps irrigate an area of 770,000 hectares (1,900,000 acres). This area is in the Sindh Sagar Doab, located to the east of the Indus River. The planning for the barrage dates back to the 19th century. However, the final plans were made in 1919, and construction took place from 1939 to 1946.

The Jinnah Barrage diverts an average of 283 cubic metres per second (10,000 cubic feet per second) of water into the 51.5 km (32.0 miles)-long Thal Canal, which serves areas in Bhakkar, Khushab, Layyah, Mianwali, and Muzaffargarh Districts.

The canal has an additional 3,362 km (2,089 miles) of canal branches and distributors. The barrage spans 1,152 metres (3,780 feet) over the river and has a maximum flood height of 8.5 metres (28 feet). It can discharge up to 27,000 cubic metres per second (950,000 cubic feet per second) downstream with 42 spillway gates, each of which is 18.2 metres (60 feet) wide.

A hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 96 MW was constructed on the right bank. It consists of four 12 MW pit turbine generators. The construction took place between 2006 and 2012. In June 2012, a rehabilitation project for the barrage began.

As part of this project, a downstream weir measuring 244 meters (801 feet) is being built. The purpose of the weir is to dissipate energy from the upstream spillway. Additionally, new guide banks will be constructed, existing ones will be repaired, and the upstream railway bridge will be rehabilitated.

5) Chashma Dam

Chashma Barrage is also located in Mianwali district of Punjab. Its construction work began in 1967 and was completed in 1971.

In addition, the Chashma Barrage is built on the Indus River. It is located about 56 kilometers downstream from the Jinnah Barrage.

In addition, this dam has a span of 1,084 meters. It has 52 gates and each gate is 18.2 meters wide. Therefore, the discharge capacity of this dam is greater than that of Jinnah Dam. Further, Chashma Barrage has an overflow capacity of 8,70,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs). It supplies water to CJ-Link Canal and Chashma Right Bank Canal.

6) Taunsa Barrage

Taunsa Barrage is located in Dera Ghazi Khan district of Punjab. This dam is also built on the river Indus.

Moreover, this dam was built between 1952 and 1958. The Taunsa Dam is 1325 meters long and feeds three canals.

In addition, it is a vital dam on the Indus River. About 6 million farmers irrigate their fields from this dam.

7) Trim Barrage

Trimmu Barrage is a structure on the Chenab River located in the Jhang District of Punjab, downstream from where the Jhelum River meets the Chenab River. It is located about 25 km from Jhang town and near Atharan Hazari town. It was built as one of the seven connecting canals under the Indus Water Scheme in Pakistan.

The primary purpose of Trimmu Barrage is to control the flow of water in the River Chenab for flood control and irrigation purposes. It was originally built by English engineers between 1937 and 1939. It was primarily built as a flood control mechanism to protect the city of Jhang.

The dam has undergone several upgrades over the years, including the construction of new gates and the maintenance of previous ones. The bridge section of the arched grille is integrated with several protective belts. LTV traffic was allowed during certain hours, while HTV traffic was completely banned until the causeway was completed on 30 June 2020. Currently, traffic is open for both HTV and LTV. The headwaters were reconstructed and new bridges were built on the river.

8) Rasool Barrage:

Rasol Barrage is located on the Jehlum River, between the Jhelum and Mandi Bahauddin districts of Punjab. It is located 72 km downstream from Mangla Dam.

The present Rasul barrage was constructed in 1968 and the old barrage built by the British was dismantled. The Sargodha Zone of Punjab is responsible for the operation of the dam, which is used to control the flow of water in the Jhelum River for irrigation and flood control purposes.

Rasul Barrage has a discharge capacity of 24,070 cubic meters per second. Water from the barrage is diverted to the Chenab River at Qadirabad through the Rasul-Qadirabad Link Canal and finally transferred to the Sulemanki Barrage on the Sutlej River. The Rasul-Qadirabad Link Canal has the second largest water discharge capacity after the Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal.

The Rasul-Qadirabad link canal has a discharge capacity of 538 m³/s. The Chashma-Jhelum link canal has a higher capacity of 615 m³/s. The Lower Jhelum Canal starts at Rasul Barrage and has a discharge capacity of 5280 cusecs. It provides irrigation for Mandi Bahauddin and Sargodha areas. The canal covers a cultivable command area of ​​1.45 million acres.

9) Sulemanki Headworks

Sulemanki Headworks is located in Okara district of Punjab province. It is built on the river Sutlej in Depalpur Tehsil of Okara.

Moreover, this building was built between 1922 and 1927 by the Nawab of Bahawalpur. It supplies water for the purpose of irrigation of the adjacent area.

In addition, the main hydraulic structure in this region is Sulemanki. Millions of livers of this region depend on this head.

10) Marala Headworks

Marala Headworks is located in Sialkot district of Punjab. It is built on the river Chenab. This dam was first built in 1912.

In addition, a new barrage named Marala Barrage was constructed in 1968. It supplies water to adjacent areas for irrigation purposes.

Moreover, the discharge capacity of this dam is 1,100,000 cusecs. It feeds two major canals namely Marala Ravi Link Canal and Upper Chenab Canal.

11) Khanki Headworks

Khanki Headworks is located in Gujranwala district of Punjab. This barrage is also built on river Chenab.

Moreover, the construction work on this barrage was completed in 1889. Hence, it is one of the oldest barrages in Pakistan.

In addition, the discharge capacity of Khanki Headworks is 800,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs). It is used to control flood water and supply water for irrigation purposes.

12-Ghazi-Barotha firing

Ghazi-Barotha Dam, located in Punjab and linked to the Indus River, is a 1,450 MW run-of-river hydroelectric project located about 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Attock and east of Swabi and Haripur districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was built in 1995 and consists of five generators, each capable of producing a maximum power generation capacity of 290 MW.

On 19 August 2003, former President General Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the plant and the first two of its five generators, Unit 1 and Unit 2. The project was completed in December 2004, with the last generator commissioned on 6 April 2004.

The project received funding from various sources, including the Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan (WAPDA), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, the European Investment Bank and the Islamic Development Bank, with a total cost of $2.1 billion.

A total of 1,600 cubic meters per second of water is diverted from the Indus River near Ghazi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is approximately 7 km downstream of Tarbela Dam. The diverted water then flows through a concrete power channel that is 100 meters wide and 9 meters deep and stretches for 52 km to the village of Barotha, where the power complex is located.

For a distance of 63 km between Ghazi and Barotha, the Indus River has a gradient of 76 meters. Once it has passed through the power plant, the water is released back into the Indus River. In addition to these primary structures, there are also 225 km of transmission lines.

The dam is located 7 km downstream from Tarbela Dam and has a pond that regulates the daily discharge from Tarbela. It diverts the flow to the power channel and adds compensating water during periods of low flow.

13) Balloki Headworks

Balloki Headworks is a barrage on the river Ravi. It is located in the Nankana Sahib district of the Punjab province of Pakistan.

Moreover, this major structure was first completed in 1915 by the British government. It was part of the "Triple Canals Project".

In addition, the Balloki Headworks irrigates a large area in the adjoining districts. Many rehabilitation programs have been carried out on this major work.

14) Sidhnai Headworks

Sidhnai Headworks is built on the river Ravi. It is located in the Khanewal district of the Punjab province of Pakistan.

Moreover, this head is located 15 kilometers from the confluence of the Ravi River with the Chenab River. It is used to control the flow of the river and to provide water for irrigation purposes.

The following table provides details of all dams in Pakistan, including the river it is built on, year of completion and length.

Barrage River Year completed Length

Chashma Barrage Indus 1971 1,084 m (3,556 ft)

Ghazi Brotha Barrage Indus 2004 51.90 km

Jinnah Barrage Indus 1946 1,152 m (3,780 ft)

Rasul Barrage Jhelum 1968 975 m (3,201 ft)

Taunsa Barrage Indus 1958 1,325 m (4,346 ft)

Trimmu Barrage Chenab 1939 922 m (3,025 ft)

Guddu Barrage Indus 1962 1355 m (4446 ft)

Kotri Barrage Indus 1955 1,600 m (5,200 ft)

Sukkur Barrage Indus 1932 About 2 km (1 mi)

15) Qadirabad Headworks

Qadirabad Headworks is located in Mandi Bahauddin district of Punjab. It is built on the river Ravi to control the flow of water.

In addition, this main structure supplies water to a large area for irrigation purposes. Therefore, it is one of the most important heads of Pakistan.

16) Panjnad Headworks

Panjnad Headworks is located in Bahawalpur district of Punjab. In this main building, all the five rivers of Punjab join and enter the Indus River.

Besides, this major structure feeds three canals namely Panjnad Canal, Abbassia Canal and Abbasia Link Canal. In 2020, a semi-automatic gate was installed on this front.

Conclusion

Dams are an integral part of agricultural land as all water is controlled through these dams. Here we have checked all the dams in the provinces of Pakistan like Sindh, Punjab etc.