List of Rivers in Pakistan
Have you ever visited the beautiful places of Pakistan? Pakistan is enriched with natural beauty attracting millions of tourists to entertain from the breathtaking sceneries of the country. Historical places in Pakistan, the Skyscraper Mountains, evergreen forests, spectacular waterfalls, and rivers in Pakistan have been the center of attention for local and foreign tourists.
According to a report published by Dawn News on the 30th of December, 2023, the ratio of foreign tourists in Pakistan surged by 112% compared to the previous year.
Besides, Pakistan is also known for having rich resources of water. Up above the melting of glaciers on mountain ranges, waterfalls in Pakistan, lakes, and rivers are rich resources of water. However, one of the most precious water resources is rivers, therefore you cannot deny the importance of rivers in Pakistan.
There are approximately 24 small and long famous rivers flowing in all provinces of Pakistan. In these rivers 8 flow in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which are Kabul, Swat, Chitral, Kunar, Siran, Panjkora, Kurram, Dor, Haroo, Gomal, and Zhob. In Punjab, there are flowing 5 famous rivers are Indus River, Jhelum River, Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi river. Moreover, the rivers flowing in Baluchistan are Zhob, Nari, Bolan, Pishin, Lora, Mula, and Porali. Moreover, 4 rivers flow in the Sindh province are Ghaggar-Hakra River, Hub River, Rigvedic River, and fourth one is Indus River.
In the blog, we included the top 6 rivers in Pakistan adding more to the capacity of the country to surpass in the race to generate electricity by building dams in Pakistan and allowing farmers to use sufficient water for irrigation purposes.
List of Top 6 Rivers in Pakistan
- Indus River
- Chenab River
- Ravi River
- Sutlej River
- Jhelum River
- Kabul River
| River | Length | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Indus River | 3,180 KM | Senge Zangbu, Tibetan Plateau, Gar River | |
| 2. | Chenab River | 960 KM | Baralacha La Pass | |
| 3. | Ravi River | 720 KM | Chamba | |
| 4. | Sutlej River | 1,450 KM | Mount Kailash | |
| 5. | Jhelum River | 725 KM | Pir Panjal Range | |
| 6. | Kabul River | 700 KM | Sanglakh Range of Hindu Kush Mountains |
1. Indus River
The Indus River is the longest river in Pakistan having a length of 3180 km. With its enormous length, it is also one of the largest rivers in the world. The River Indus also has the title of the national river of Pakistan. The river originates from the Tibetan Plateau in China and passes through India and Pakistan. It runs through Ladakh and then flows towards Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan and at last falls into the Arabian Sea.
In addition, the river’s estimated flow is approximately 243 km3, and total drainage area is more than 1,165,000 km2. In Pakistan, the Indus River is one of the key resources for water fulfilling the water needs of almost 180 million people especially in the province of Punjab as the people are increasingly dependent upon agriculture. So, the river provides them with an abundant amount of water that results in high production of crops.
Likewise, the Indus River also contributes to the production of hydropower by building the largest dam in Pakistan, the Tarbela Dam, which can produce 4,888 MW of electricity that is expected to reach 6,418 MW in 2025. Also, the River Indus is one of the famous 5 rivers of Pakistan and an important part of the river network in the country.
2. River Chenab
The Chenab River is one of the longest rivers in Pakistan having a length of approximately 960 km. It plays a vital role in contributing to the water resources and adding more to the spectrum of Pakistan. The water of river Chenab falls from the high mountain ranges in Pakistan to the broad low land of Punjab province, which is ideal for irrigation. Moreover, the Chenab River joins the river Jhelum and then falls into the Sutlej River which is also part of the Indus River, the largest river of Pakistan, at Lahore as it originates in the Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir.
The water of river Chenab is purposely used for irrigation, however, also supports a large number of the population by providing them with fishing facilities. Also, the river Chenab has been an important route for trade.
3. River Ravi
River Ravi is another one of the famous rivers in Pakistan having a length of 720 km with a drainage area of about 55,000 square kilometres. It is located in eastern Pakistan and northwestern India. You will want to know that India can also use its water under the clauses of the Indus Water Treaty. The Ravi River originates from the Himalayan mountain range flows through the southwestern region of the Indian Subcontinent, and then falls into the Pakistani region while merging with the river Chenab.
After that, the Ravi River falls into the Arabian Sea through the River Indus in Pakistan region. So, you can also call it one of the streams of the Indus River. You can easily understand the merging of these rivers in the Pakistan map. Moreover, the River Ravi was known as Iravati according to the ancient history trace back to Vedas.
In addition, the water of the Ravi River is also helpful in fostering forests in Pakistan. Plants and trees of various kinds are growing due to the impacts of River Ravi including deodar, walnut, Quercus ilex, mulberry, alder, edible pine, twisted cypress, olive, Kakkar, chinar, Cedrela serata, and sisso. Although, rivers have their own impacts on the country, deserts in Pakistan also have their significance as they control the average atmosphere of a region.
4. River Sutlej
Rivers in Pakistan play their roles in lessening hydropower and irrigation problems. One of these rivers is the Sutlej River having a length of approximately 1450 km becoming 2nd longest river in Pakistan after the Indus River. It is located in both India and Pakistan, and its water is used by both countries under the Indus Water Treaty signed in the 1960s. Before entering Pakistan, its water flows from the Tibetan Plateau in China and flows through the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
In addition, the River Sutlej contributes to the production of hydropower as a result of many projects. These projects include Bhakra Dam producing 1325 MW, the Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant producing 1000 MW, and the Nathpa Jhakri Dam producing 1500 MW. Currently, the government is planning to construct more dams in Pakistan by utilizing the water of the river Sutlej to overcome the problems of irrigation and electricity.
5. River Jhelum
Having a length of 725 km River Jhelum is one of the main rivers of Pakistan located in northern India and eastern Pakistan passes through Kashmir Valley, one of the famous hill stations in Pakistan. The river originates in the southeastern region of the valley of Kashmir and flows through the city of Srinagar before making its way into the Pakistani border.
Besides, the Jhelum River also contributes a greater part to satisfy the irrigation and electricity needs of the country. There are many dams built on the river. One of them is Mangla Dam built in 1967 which is one of the largest dams in Pakistan. The storage capacity of the dam is 5,900,000 acre-feet (7.3 km3).
The River Jhelum also has historical facts as Alexander the Great and his army used the river at the battle of Hydaspes River when he defeated the Indian king, Porus, in 326 BC.
Besides this list, the Kabul River is also important in Pakistan and is included in the top 10 rivers in Pakistan.
6. Kabul River
The River Kabul is one of the 6 famous rivers in Pakistan. The river is located in the north of the country and flows in the renowned province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Moreover, the river has approximately a length of 700 km and a drainage area of 54,000 square kilometers. The melting snow of the Hindu Kush and Pamir mountain ranges cause the glowing water of the River Kabul. The Kabul River starts with the joining together of two streams, the Logar and Panjshir, in Afghanistan, and then flows through Pakistan and eventually falls into the Indus River at Attock City.
Apart from these famous rivers, here is a list of other rivers and lakes in Pakistan.
- Gomal River
- Soan River
- Swat River
- Dasht River
- Kunar River
- Hingol River
- Gilgit River
- Rainbow Lake, Domail
- Mahodand Lake, Swat
- Aansu Lake
- Saiful Mulook Lake
Conclusion
We have discussed the natural beauty of Pakistan that you can experience if you visit the Northern areas of Pakistan. However, the main purpose of the blog was to discuss rivers in Pakistan and their location, and also important updates about these rivers in Pakistan. We discussed the top 6 rivers along with their lengths, dams built on these rivers, and their contribution to irrigation and hydropower production. Moreover, Pakistan Rivers has also been a significant source of income for fishermen. For reading more interesting facts about Pakistan, keep visiting AH Blog.
FAQs
How many rivers in Pakistan are located in Punjab?
There are 5 famous rivers located in Punjab which are Indus River, Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab, and Jhelum River.
How many rivers are in Pakistan?
There are more or less 24 famous rivers in Pakistan.
Which river is famous in Pakistan?
The Indus River is famous in Pakistan.
Where do the five rivers of Pakistan meet?
The five rivers Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus River meet in the Punjab Province of Pakistan.
Which is the deepest river in Pakistan?
The Indus River is the deepest in Pakistan.
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