National Infrastructure of Pakistan
· Pakistan Studies/Affairs
50 MCQs
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of 50 MCQs
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1
The Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) is widely recognized as what type of system on a global scale?
Answer:
The world's largest contiguous irrigation system
The Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) is the largest contiguous irrigation system in the world. It consists of three major reservoirs, 16 barrages, two headworks, and 12 inter-river link canals that provide water to over 45 million acres of fertile land across Pakistan.
2
Under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which three eastern rivers were assigned exclusively to India?
Answer:
Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, divided the rivers of the Indus Basin between India and Pakistan. India was given exclusive rights to the waters of the three eastern rivers: the Ravi, the Sutlej, and the Beas, while Pakistan received rights to the western rivers.
3
Which three western rivers were assigned to Pakistan under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty?
Answer:
Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab
Pakistan was granted exclusive rights to the three western rivers of the basin: the Indus, the Jhelum, and the Chenab. This treaty remains one of the most successful examples of transboundary water sharing despite geopolitical tensions between the two nations.
4
Tarbela Dam, one of the largest earth-filled dams in the world, is constructed on which river?
Answer:
Indus River
Tarbela Dam is located on the Indus River in the Swabi and Haripur districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was completed in 1976 and serves as a vital source of hydroelectric power and irrigation water storage for the entire country.
5
Which dam is constructed on the Jhelum River and is the second-largest dam in Pakistan?
Answer:
Mangla Dam
Mangla Dam is located on the Jhelum River in the Mirpur District of Azad Kashmir. It is the world's seventh-largest dam and plays a crucial role in regulating water flow for the irrigation systems of Punjab and Sindh.
6
What is the primary function of the 'Link Canals' in Pakistan's irrigation system?
Answer:
To transfer water from western rivers to eastern rivers
After the Indus Waters Treaty, link canals were constructed to compensate for the loss of water from the eastern rivers. These canals transfer surplus water from the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab to the channels previously fed by the Ravi and Sutlej.
7
Which barrage is the oldest and largest in Pakistan, located near Sukkur?
Answer:
Sukkur Barrage (Lloyd Barrage)
Sukkur Barrage, originally known as Lloyd Barrage, was commissioned in 1932. It is the backbone of Sindh's economy, feeding seven large canals that irrigate approximately 10 million acres of land.
8
Which authority is responsible for the distribution of river waters among the provinces of Pakistan?
Answer:
Indus River System Authority (IRSA)
The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) was established in 1992 following the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991. Its mandate is to regulate and monitor the distribution of water resources among the provinces in accordance with agreed-upon shares.
9
What is the per capita water availability in Pakistan as of recent estimates, indicating water stress?
Answer:
Less than $1,000$ cubic meters
Pakistan has transitioned from being a water-abundant country to a water-stressed one. Per capita water availability has dropped from $5,000$ cubic meters in 1951 to less than $1,000$ cubic meters today, which is the international threshold for water scarcity.
10
Which irrigation system is traditionally used in the mountainous regions of Balochistan to conserve water?
Answer:
Karez System
The Karez system is an ancient, indigenous irrigation method found in Balochistan. It consists of a series of underground tunnels that tap into groundwater at the base of hills and transport it to agricultural fields to minimize evaporation losses.
11
The 'Water Apportionment Accord' was signed in which year to resolve disputes between provinces?
Answer:
1991
The Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 is a landmark agreement that settled long-standing water distribution disputes between Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Balochistan. It serves as the legal basis for current water sharing managed by IRSA.
12
Which dam is currently under construction on the Indus River in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
Answer:
Diamer-Bhasha Dam
The Diamer-Bhasha Dam is a major project under construction on the Indus River. Once completed, it will provide $6.4$ million acre-feet (MAF) of water storage and generate $4,500$ MW of electricity, significantly boosting water security.
13
What percentage of Pakistan's total available water is estimated to be used for the agricultural sector?
Answer:
90% to 95%
Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in Pakistan, accounting for over 90% of the country's total water consumption. This highlights the critical importance of the irrigation system for national food security and the economy.
14
Which barrage is located at the confluence of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers?
Answer:
Trimmu Barrage
Trimmu Barrage is situated in the Jhang District at the point where the Jhelum and Chenab rivers meet. It serves as a vital control point for managing water flow into several major canals in the Punjab region.
15
The SCARP (Salinity Control and Reclamation Project) was launched to combat which problem?
Answer:
Waterlogging and Salinity
SCARP was a massive government initiative involving the installation of thousands of tubewells to lower the water table. This was designed to reclaim land that had become infertile due to waterlogging and the resulting accumulation of salt on the surface.
16
Which canal is known as the longest canal in Pakistan?
Answer:
Nara Canal
The Nara Canal, which originates from the Sukkur Barrage on the Indus River, is the longest canal in Pakistan. It is a major source of irrigation for the Khairpur, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, and Tharparkar districts.
17
What is the name of the project that recently focused on the lining of watercourses in Pakistan?
Answer:
National Program for Improvement of Watercourses (NPIW)
The National Program for Improvement of Watercourses (NPIW) was launched to reduce seepage losses. By lining earthen watercourses with concrete or bricks, the government aimed to save millions of acre-feet of water that would otherwise be lost before reaching the crops.
18
Which river does the Warsak Dam supply water to for irrigation in Peshawar and Nowshera?
Answer:
Kabul River
Warsak Dam is a multi-purpose dam located on the Kabul River, approximately 20 km northwest of Peshawar. It provides both hydroelectric power and critical irrigation water to the Peshawar valley.
19
The Guddu Barrage serves as a major source of irrigation for which two provinces?
Answer:
Sindh and Balochistan
Guddu Barrage, located on the Indus River, is strategically important because it supplies irrigation water to both Upper Sindh and the desert regions of eastern Balochistan via the Pat Feeder and Desert canals.
20
What is 'Barrage' primarily used for compared to a 'Dam'?
Answer:
To divert river water into canals for irrigation
While dams are primarily designed for large-scale water storage and high-head power generation, barrages are lower structures built across rivers primarily to raise the water level and divert the flow into irrigation canals.
