Hub Dam (Urdu: حب ڈیم ) is a reservoir on the Hub River. It is situated 56 km from Karachi city in Karachi and Hub District on Sindh and Balochistan provinces border. The dam is extended to 24300 acres with gross storage capacity of 857000 acre feet. It is Pakistan's fifth-largest dam.[4] It is an important source that provides the drinking water to the metropolitan city Karachi.[5]

Hub Dam
Official nameحب ڈیم
CountryPakistan
LocationSindh-Balochistan provincial border
45 kilometres (28 mi) north-east of Karachi
Coordinates25°15′21″N 67°6′51″E / 25.25583°N 67.11417°E / 25.25583; 67.11417
PurposeMunicipal
Industrial
Irrigation[1]
Construction beganSeptember 1963 (1963-09)[1]
Opening dateJune 1981 (1981-06)[1]
Construction costRs. 1191.806 million (US$4.1 million)[1]
Operator(s)WAPDA
Dam and spillways
Type of damEarth fill dam
ImpoundsHub river
Shoring Nullah
Reservoir
Total capacity687,276 acre⋅ft (0.847742 km3)[2]
Active capacity656,000 acre⋅ft (0.809 km3)[1]
Inactive capacity41,806 acre⋅ft (0.051567 km3)[2]
Catchment area3,410 square miles (8,800 km2)[2]
Surface area29.06 square miles (75.3 km2)[2]
Installed capacity.5v MW
Designated10 May 2001
Reference no.1064[3]
Spillway of Hub Dam

In 1974, the government of Sindh declared the area around dam as a wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is about 27219 hectors in size. It is favorable area for feeding and nesting for Cranes, Pelicans, Ducks and Waders. It also an important habitat of migratory birds. The Dam was designated a Ramsar site on 1 May 2001.[5]

Hub Dam is also a tourist resort. On weekend holidays many people from Karachi visit to enjoy picnics, swimming and fishing.[5] A rest house of WAPDA is also located there for tourists stay.

In August 2018, Wapda to enhance[6] Hub Dam's storage capacity and to set up small hydroelectric power project at the dam but due to negligence no ground work have started yet as of August 2020.

Historical records

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Before winters rains in February and March 2019 the level of water in the dam had dropped to 276 ft. A spell of rains in southwestern province of Balochistan in February and March 2019 has led to increase in the water level at Hub dam, raising the level to 348 feet by 70 feet till March 3, 2019.[7] The dam's water level rose close to its maximum capacity of 340 feet after almost 13 years on 27 August 2020.[8] The dam's water level rose close to its maximum capacity of 335 feet on 18 July 2021.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Hub Dam". Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "Hub Dam – Main Features". Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Hub Dam". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  4. ^ "The List of Famous Dams in Pakistan | Blog | AH Group". AH BLOG. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  5. ^ a b c "Hub Dam Wildlife Sanctuary". Sindh Wildlife Department. Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  6. ^ "WAPDA to enhance Hub Dam's storage capacity". The Express Tribune. 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  7. ^ "Hub Dam's revival to allay city's water woes - Pakistan - DAWN.COM". 4 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Hub Dam begins to overflow amid downpour". 27 August 2020.
  9. ^ Shahwani, Abdul Wahid (2021-07-18). "Hub dam almost full as rains continue". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
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