The review highlights a central challenge for Pakistan: the country has significant water resources suitable for electricity generation, yet only a fraction of its hydropower potential has been developed. Expanding hydropower could provide a domestic source of renewable electricity while helping Pakistan reduce its exposure to imported fossil fuel prices and energy supply pressures.
Large Hydropower Resources Remain Underused
Hydropower has long been considered one of Pakistan’s most important renewable energy options. The review reports substantial differences among estimates of the country’s total hydropower potential, depending on the methodology and source used. One estimate cited in the article places commercially feasible potential at approximately 190 GW, while other assessments estimate technical or exploitable potential in the tens of gigawatts.
Despite this resource base, the amount currently utilized remains considerably smaller.
The authors point to Pakistan’s northern regions as particularly promising for future development because of their mountainous terrain and extensive river systems. The Hunza River Basin, for example, contains potential sites that have been identified through geographic and hydrological analysis.
Previous research cited by Zafar and colleagues identified potential hydropower locations along the Hunza River using location-search and geographic approaches. Such studies demonstrate how geographical information can help identify sites suitable for future electricity generation.
The review also highlights the potential of smaller run-of-river facilities. These projects may offer an alternative to very large dams because they can be easier to develop and may produce fewer environmental impacts in certain circumstances.
Hydropower Could Support a More Stable Renewable Energy Mix
The authors describe hydropower as more than a source of electricity. Hydropower can also provide operational flexibility, support grid stability, and contribute to water management, flood control, and irrigation.
This flexibility is particularly important as Pakistan expands solar and wind generation. Solar and wind power are variable because their output depends on sunlight and wind conditions. Hydropower can help balance these fluctuations and provide a more stable electricity system.
The review therefore supports a diversified renewable energy mix rather than relying on a single technology. Combining hydropower with solar and wind could improve the overall reliability of Pakistan’s renewable electricity system. Research cited in the review also indicates that hybrid wind-solar-hydro systems with energy storage can increase power generation and reduce renewable energy curtailment.
Major Projects Could Add Thousands of Megawatts
Pakistan already has several major hydropower projects under development or planned for future construction.
According to data cited from the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), projects include:
- Diamer Basha Dam on the Indus River, with a projected capacity of 4,500 MW.
- Dasu Hydropower Project on the Indus River, with a projected capacity of 4,320 MW.
- Bunji Hydropower Project on the Indus River, with a projected capacity of 7,100 MW.
- Kohala Hydropower Project on the Jhelum River, with a projected capacity of 1,124 MW.
- Mohmand Dam on the Swat River, with a projected capacity of 800 MW.
- Azad Pattan on the Jhelum River, with a projected capacity of about 700.7 MW.
These projects illustrate the scale of Pakistan’s hydropower opportunity. However, large hydropower facilities require substantial investment, lengthy development periods, careful environmental assessment, and strong institutional coordination.
Policy and Finance Remain Major Obstacles
The review finds that Pakistan’s hydropower challenge is not simply a question of available water or technology. Policy instability, institutional weaknesses, financing constraints, inconsistent planning, and limited private-sector participation have slowed development.
The authors cite previous research identifying four major barriers: limited private-sector involvement, incoherent planning, financial barriers, and institutional barriers. Political and policy-related obstacles have also been identified as particularly significant in assessments of renewable energy development.
Large hydropower projects require significant upfront investment and can take many years to complete. Pakistan’s financial constraints and dependence on external funding can make these projects difficult to finance.
The review recommends strengthening institutional capacity, improving policy alignment, accelerating approval processes, and creating targeted incentives to attract private investment. Public-private financing models, green bonds, and climate funds are also identified as possible mechanisms for mobilizing capital.
Environmental and Social Impacts Cannot Be Ignored
Hydropower is renewable, but large dams can still create significant environmental and social consequences.
Large projects can alter river ecosystems, affect access to natural resources, and require the relocation of communities. These impacts make environmental impact assessment (EIA) an important component of hydropower planning in Pakistan.
The review cites research showing that more than 20 percent of surveyed decision-makers disagreed that Pakistan’s existing institutional framework fully complied with EIA guidelines. Another 25 percent believed the country’s existing guidelines were not aligned with international standards and practices for hydropower projects.
The authors point to the Gulpur Hydropower Project in Kotli, Azad Kashmir, as an example of how environmental assessment can identify sensitive areas and influence project design.
Zafar, Mumtaz, Amin, Muneer, and Azeem emphasize that communities affected by hydropower projects should not be treated simply as recipients of compensation. Public participation and social equity need to be incorporated throughout project development.
Smaller Projects and Modern Technology Could Shape the Future
The future of hydropower in Pakistan may involve more than large dams. The review highlights small hydropower facilities as a potential growth area because their smaller scale may reduce some of the financial, construction, and environmental barriers associated with major projects.
Other technological developments could also improve future hydropower performance. These include digitalization, advanced turbine technologies, pumped-storage systems, and improved project planning and management.
The authors also identify the potential value of combining hydropower with solar and wind energy. Such integrated systems could help Pakistan build a more flexible renewable electricity network while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
A Strategic Opportunity for Pakistan’s Energy Future
Pakistan has set a target of increasing renewable energy as part of its long-term energy transition. The review notes a national goal of reaching 30 percent renewable energy by 2030.
For Muhammad Zafar, Mohsin Mumtaz, Haseeb Amin, Muhammad Muneer, and Muhammad Sohaib Azeem, unlocking Pakistan’s hydropower resources requires a comprehensive approach. Better project planning, sustainable engineering, stronger environmental safeguards, adequate financing, public participation, and more effective policies must work together.
The authors conclude that hydropower can become an important part of Pakistan’s response to its energy crisis and dependence on imported oil, but development must balance electricity generation with environmental protection and social equity.
Author Profiles
Muhammad Zafar — Author affiliated with the Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore.
Mohsin Mumtaz — Author affiliated with the Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore.
Haseeb Amin — Author affiliated with the Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore.
Muhammad Muneer — Corresponding author affiliated with the School of Electrical and Power Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing.
Muhammad Sohaib Azeem — Author affiliated with the School of Electrical and Power Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing.
The source article does not specify the authors’ academic degrees or individual fields of expertise. Those details are therefore not added to avoid introducing unsupported information.
Research Source
Article Title: Harnessing Pakistan's Mega-Hydropower Potential: A Comprehensive Review of Large-Scale Hydroelectric Projects
Authors: Muhammad Zafar, Mohsin Mumtaz, Haseeb Amin, Muhammad Muneer, Muhammad Sohaib Azeem
Affiliations: University of the Punjab and Hohai University
Journal: Indonesian Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Technology (MARCOPOLO)
Volume: 4, Number 3
Publication Year: 2026
Pages: 205–226
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/marcopolo.v4i3.31
Official Journal URL: https://journalmarcopolo.my.id/index.php/marcopolo
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