Tarbela Dam hits full storage amid strong inflows in Pakistan

Pakistan’s conditions for water storage improved further on Sunday as Tarbela Dam reached its maximum storage level, marking a significant rise in reservoir capacity during the current high-flow period, according to the Flood Forecasting Division and Dawn Home.

Tarbela Dam conditions latest: full storage reached

The country’s second largest reservoir after Mangla Dam climbed to 1,550 feet, which is its maximum storage level. By 6pm on Sunday, the water conservation level had reached 1,549.48 feet, up from 1,549 feet recorded at 6am. The minimum operating or dead level of Tarbela Dam is 1,402 feet.

The live storage recorded at the reservoir on Sunday stood at 5.523 million-acre feet. The increase reflects the impact of the ongoing high-flow season, which sources attributed to rains and snowmelt.

For Pakistan, the development matters because Tarbela is one of the country’s main water storage facilities and its filling supports broader conservation capacity at a time when river flows remain important for reservoirs, barrages and downstream water management.

Other reservoirs are also rising

The water conservation level in Mangla Dam was also moving upward and reached 1,206.45 feet on Sunday. That put it about 35.50 feet below its full storage capacity of 1,242 feet. Mangla Dam’s minimum operating level is 1,050 feet, and its live storage was reported at 4.621 million-acre feet.

Chashma Lake was also close to its maximum conservation level of 649 feet. Its current storage level was 648.50 feet, with live storage of 0.285 million-acre feet. The lake’s minimum operating level is 638.15 feet.

The situation suggests that several major water bodies are nearing or have reached high storage levels during the seasonal inflow period. In 2024 and 2025 on the same date, Tarbela had filled to 90 percent and 96 percent, respectively, offering a comparison with this year’s stronger storage position.

Forecasts point to stable inflows for now

The Flood Forecasting Division said no significant increase in inflows is expected at major gauging stations of the Indus, Kabul, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers over the next 24 hours. Even so, low-level flood conditions are likely to continue at several barrages on the Indus.

That means reservoir conditions may remain broadly stable in the short term, while downstream river management continues to face cautious monitoring. The latest readings show how quickly Pakistan’s major reservoirs can respond to seasonal water movement, especially when rainfall and snowmelt add to inflows.

Tarbela last attained its maximum storage level on August 21 last year. On Sunday, the dam again crossed its full conservation threshold, underscoring the seasonal importance of the reservoir in Pakistan’s water system.