ISLAMABAD: Tarbela Dam celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, commemorating five decades of crucial contributions to Pakistan’s agriculture, flood control, and clean energy generation. Completed in 1974, the dam has significantly bolstered the national economy by releasing 406 million acre-feet (MAF) of water for irrigation and generating over 590 billion units of eco-friendly electricity for the grid.
As the world’s largest earth and rock-fill dam upon completion, Tarbela boasts a current installed power capacity of 4,888 MW, with ongoing expansions set to increase capacity to 6,418 MW. Despite a reduction in water storage due to sedimentation, Tarbela remains vital to Pakistan’s water management and power infrastructure.
