Senate panel told: Govt unaware of India’s Chenab water release
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Commissioner for Indus Waters, Mehar Ali Shah, informed a Senate panel on Thursday that the government has no information regarding any release of water by India through spillways of dams on the Chenab River that could trigger flooding in Pakistan.
Testifying before the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah, the Commissioner—who also serves as Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources—stated that there is currently no formal communication channel between Pakistan and India following New Delhi’s decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance. As a result, no hydrological data is being shared with Islamabad.
He maintained that the Chenab River is currently experiencing normal seasonal flooding due to rainfall in the upper catchment areas. “The Meteorological Office is collecting data through remote monitoring, which indicates that there is no unusual flooding in the Chenab,” he said.
Shah added that the government has compared the current water levels with historical data from 2017, 2022, 2023, and 2025, concluding that the situation remains within normal parameters.
Responding to concerns raised by Senator Khalil Tahir regarding media reports of India opening gates of the Salal Dam on the upper Chenab, the Commissioner reiterated that relevant authorities have received no such information. “Our assessment is that the rise in water levels is due to rainfall in the upper regions, as the river itself does not have the capacity to generate extreme flooding independently,” he added.
He further noted that Indian reservoir data shows Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej is filled to around 30 percent capacity, Pong Dam on the Beas to 29 percent, and Thein Dam on the Ravi to about 30 percent.
The Chairman of the Federal Flood Commission informed the committee that water discharge at Marala headworks on the Chenab stood at 275,000 cusecs, while Khanki and Qadirabad barrages were experiencing high flood levels.
The committee was also briefed on an incoming weather system, comprising a westerly wave combined with strong monsoon currents from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. This system is expected to bring widespread rain, wind, and thunderstorms, including isolated heavy to very heavy falls across Islamabad, upper and central Punjab, northeast Balochistan, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the upper catchments of major rivers.
Under its influence, high flood levels are anticipated in the Chenab at Marala, the Jhelum upstream of Mangla, and in associated nullahs of both rivers—including Dora, Dotta, Dowara, Bhimber, Halsi, Aik, and Palkhu—as well as in tributaries of the Ravi such as Bein, Basantar, Deg, and Sakki.
Additionally, high flows are expected in the Kabul River and its tributaries, while flash flooding may occur in hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and streams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan. Urban flooding risks have been highlighted for cities including Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore, Narowal, Gujrat, Okara, Khushab, Sialkot, Bahawalnagar, Sahiwal, and Faisalabad.
The Flood Commission chairman further informed that Tarbela Reservoir is currently filled to 69 percent capacity and Mangla to 45 percent, with overall dam storage standing at 58 percent.
Meanwhile, a representative of the Ministry of Railways told the committee that comprehensive planning has been finalized to safeguard railway infrastructure from potential flood damage. Vulnerable locations have been identified, and precautionary measures are in place to protect tracks, bridges, and installations, ensuring uninterrupted train operations during heavy rains.
Officials also noted that the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project has entered its final stage of implementation. Under the project, all over-bridges and underpasses will be reconstructed with flood resilience in mind, significantly enhancing safety and traffic flow.
The Ministry added that the ML-1 project, being executed with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank, will mark a major milestone in the modernization of Pakistan’s railway sector. Improved infrastructure, aligned with modern standards, is expected to reduce flood-related risks while boosting overall efficiency and capacity.
The Committee expressed concern over reports regarding Indian dam releases and emphasized the need for effective early-warning and monitoring systems. It was informed that Pakistan’s existing dams could mitigate only around 20 percent of flood flows, while downstream flooding could not be effectively controlled through reservoir operations.
The Committee discussed the use of GLOF systems, weather radars, river-flow models and AI-based tools for flood forecasting. It endorsed the development of a comprehensive, centralized dashboard integrating information from federal and provincial departments for timely monitoring, early warning and coordinated response. The Committee also decided to visit NDMA in its next meeting to review its flood monitoring and command-and-control system.
Punjab and Sindh Irrigation authorities briefed the Committee on preparedness and the monitoring of vulnerable points. The Chairman Committee directed the Secretaries of Irrigation Departments of Punjab and Sindh to personally attend the next meeting. Pakistan Railways informed the Committee that 149 vulnerable points had been identified, with protective measures and continuous monitoring arrangements in place.
The Chairman Committee expressed concern over the absence of the Meteorological Department and stressed its participation in future deliberations. NDMA also briefed the Committee on evacuation operations in Shakargarh following incidents reported the previous night, resulting in 15 casualties.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jam Saifullah Khan Dharejo, emphasized that recurring floods, water scarcity and the resulting loss of lives, infrastructure and billions of rupees posed a growing national challenge. The Committee called for a comprehensive, long-term flood management plan covering preparedness, early-warning systems, mitigation and structural measures. The next meeting will review a roadmap for flood control from past experience to future planning, with the Meteorological Department, NHA and other relevant federal and provincial departments expected to be invited.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026