Water Resources

Development &
Dam Engineering
Sector

“Water is to me, I confess, a

phenomenon which continually
awakens new feelings of
wonder as often as I view it.”
Michael Faraday

36 NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018

 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
AND DAM ENGINEERING SECTOR

Amid the threat that the next wars would Monitoring and evaluation is a new arena
be fought over water, the importance of where NESPAK is providing services for the
water is increasing with every coming day. Water Sector Improvement Project-I
Over the years, the water availability in assigned by the Government of Sindh. The
Pakistan has fallen drastically with statistics objective of the consultancy is to give
pointing a sharp fall from 5,000 cubic continuous feedback to the Government
metres per capita in the 1950s to less than and its associated agencies on the project's
1,000 cubic metres per capita currently. It is performance and impact since its
to be pointed out that the international establishment in 1973. NESPAK has left no
benchmark of being water scarce stands at stone unturned in giving cost-effective,
1,000 cubic metres per capita. practicable and realistic solutions to its
clients. The Company won many projects on
As the world in general and Pakistan in the basis of competition, while some were
particular are facing the paucity of this awarded to it on account of good
priceless and life-saving commodity, performance. NESPAK made its debut in the
NESPAK is fully alive to the problem and is Water Resources and Dam Engineering
making its contribution to improve the Sector with the design and construction
situation by rendering remarkable supervision of the Left Bank Irrigation
consultancy services for many mega Tunnel of Tarbela Dam Project in 1973 and
projects. since then, the Company has provided
services for more than 545 water resources
The Mangla Dam Raising Project, Diamer- projects worth Rs. 2,320 billion within
Basha Dam, Wadi Dayqah Dam, Oman, Pakistan and abroad. By virtue of more than
Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Investment 44 years of valuable experience, NESPAK is
Programme, Sindh Water Sector now capable of offering comprehensive
Improvement Phase-I Project, Kachhi Canal services in all fields related to the Water
Project Phase-I, Punjab Irrigation System Resources and Dam Engineering Sector.
Improvement Project and Rehabilitating The services for Water Resources
Lower Chenab Canal System Project are few Development and Dam Engineering Sector
examples of NESPAK's outclass performance are being provided within and outside
in the field of water consultancy services. Pakistan by a largely qualified and well-
experienced team of more than 587
In July 2010, flash floods devastated the personnel including water resources
country. In this hour of crisis, NESPAK did planners and engineers, hydrologists, dam
not remain behind and played its role in the engineers, geotechnical engineers,
rehabilitation and reconstruction work by agriculture specialists, geologists, irrigation
carrying out the flood-related projects of and drainage experts, hydrogeologists,
national importance. hydraulic engineers, soil and water quality
scientists, flood management specialists,
Another hallmark of NESPAK is that it is GIS experts, environmentalists, institutional
serving the Government of Pakistan as development experts, sociologists,
consultant to resolve water disputes with economists, construction specialists and
India. The recently addressed projects are contract managers.
Wullar Barrage, Kishan Ganga Hydropower A review of NESPAK's expertise and
Project, Tulbul Navigation Project, Nimo experience in the Water Resources
Bazgo, etc. Development and Dam Engineering Sector
is given below:

NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018 37

 SCOPE OF SERVICES from canal head, down to the watercourse
level. Planning and designing of state-of-
Water Resources Planning: Studies for the-art irrigation networks and related
evaluation of water resources, establishing structures including micro irrigation systems
planning criteria, water allocation and like drip and sprinkler irrigation. Operation
distribution among various sectors, water and maintenance manuals based on
use optimisation, identification of potential modern concepts. Studies for institutional
projects, development of procedures and reforms and development of farmers'
criteria for evaluating projects and organisations for participatory irrigation
programmes, ranking and prioritisation of management in order to ensure
projects, preparation of rolling plans and sustainability of the systems.
investment programmes within the overall
resource constraints along with inter- Drainage, Salinity Control and Land
sectoral integration with other development Reclamation: Hydrogeological studies for
programmes. Studies for assessment and estimation of drainable surplus, soil surveys
management of environmental and social and investigations for salinity/sodicity status
impacts of water resources development and reclamation programme for
programmes as well as for institutional deteriorated soils, infiltration, hydraulic
reforms and capacity building for their conductivity and aquifer tests for the
implementation and sustainability. State-of- evaluation of drainage parameters of soil,
the-art integrated water resources and design of horizontal sub-surface drainage
environmental management also falls systems and interceptor drains, design of
within the purview of services. vertical drainage systems through
tubewells, design of surface drainage
Dams and Barrages: Site selection, layout systems for conveying storm water and safe
planning, topographic surveys, geological disposal of saline effluent, environmental
mapping, geo-technical and geo-physical impact assessment studies, preparation of
investigations, seismotectonic and seismic resettlement action plans, construction
risk evaluation, hydrological studies, design supervision, contract management,
of embankments, filters, abutment preparation of completion reports,
protection works, seepage control Operation and Maintenance Manual and
measures, settlement analysis, material benefit monitoring of drainage projects.
investigations, design and hydraulic model
studies and foundation design of the dams, Groundwater Resources Development:
barrages and related structures. Design of Planning, investigation, development and
river training works including guide banks, management of groundwater resources.
marginal bunds, spurs and flood protection Planning, design and field supervision of
works on the basis of model studies. groundwater investigations including drilling
Specialized services for instrumentation of of test holes and pump out tests to
vital components of dams and barrages. augment the available data on aquifer
Preparation of environmental studies and geometry and its hydraulic parameters,
resettlement action plans, operation and monitoring network, quantification of
maintenance manuals, construction various sources of groundwater recharge
supervision and contract management, and carrying out water balance studies to
periodic inspection of dams and barrages determine the potential for additional
and designing remedial measures. development and design of well-fields.

Irrigation Systems: Feasibility studies, Flood Management: Master planning,

designs, tender documentation and feasibility studies, detailed design and
construction management of new irrigation construction supervision. Economic and
systems as well as remodelling and financial analysis as well as social and
rehabilitation of existing irrigation systems environmental impact assessment and

38 NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018

 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
AND DAM ENGINEERING SECTOR

mitigation studies. Development of flood EXPERIENCE

management projects based on integrated
river management concept. Water Resources Planning: As many as 35
water resources planning projects within
Flood Forecasting/Warning Systems: Pakistan as well as abroad, involving an area
Development of rainfall-runoff models for of more than 15 million hectares.
rivers and streams, formulation of
hydrodynamic river flow models and Dams and Barrages: As many as 154 dam
integrating these into one software with and barrage projects. The cumulative gross
easy data input and results display. storage of the reservoirs is more than
Developing various components of Flood 21,500 MCM which provides dependable
Forecasting and Warning Systems including irrigation water to more than 7 million
rainfall-runoff modelling, hydrodynamic hectares of land
river flow modelling, telecommunication
network, bathymetric surveys, flood plain Irrigation Systems: As many as 141 projects
mapping and preparation of guidelines and covering an area of more than 65,000,000
manuals for operation of the system. hectares and designed/supervised the
Development of flood forecasting system construction of canals system having a total
for the Indus River System by installing new length of about 35,000 km.
radar at Mangla and upgradation of radars
at Lahore and Sialkot. Strengthening of Drainage, Salinity Control and Land
Telemetry and HF Radios network, Reclamation: As many as 32 projects
Scale/Physical Model Testing, Flood Plain involving laying of about 4,300 km of
subsurface drains/tile drainage systems and
and Inundation Mapping, Development of
surface drainage systems over a length of
Rainfall Run-off and Hydrodynamic Models.
about 3,500 km for the improvement of an
Flow Measurements of Rivers, Canals, area of about 2.0 million hectares.
Distributaries and Watercourses:
Groundwater Resources Development: As
Measurement of discharges of canals,
many as 45 major projects resulting in the
distributaries and water courses, etc. State-
improvement of an area of 37,500 hectares
of-the- art equipment has been acquired for
through groundwater development.
this purpose.

Institutional and Social Development:

Hydropower (Low, Medium and High Head):
More than 40 irrigation and agro-
Studies related to hydrology, hydraulics and
socioeconomic projects involving social
sedimentation for the hydropower
assessment, socio-economic studies, social
development projects.
mobilisation/community development,
formation of farmers' organisations, flood
Institutional and Social Development:
protection associations, women groups,
Social assessment, socio-economic studies,
etc., training/capacity building, institutional
planning social mobilisation, community
reforms, communication strategy
development (farmers' organisations,
development, resettlement action plans
community-based organisations), training/
and evaluation.
capacity building, popularising appropriate
sustainable technologies, institutional
reforms, communication strategy,
resettlement action plans, gender and
institutional components, monitoring and
evaluation of irrigation and agricultural
projects.

NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018 39

 Punjab Irrigated Agriculture
Investment Programme
The Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Investment System, Thal Branch Canals and Distribution
Programme (PIAIP) is jointly financed by the System, New Khanki Barrage, Balloki
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Barrage and Lower Bari Doab Canal system
Government of the Punjab with a total under this project. The New Khanki Barrage,
project cost of Rs. 276 billion. A NESPAK–led Balloki Barrage and Lower Bari Doab Canal
joint venture namely PIAIP Consultants has projects are at completion stage while
been providing consultancy services for rehabilitation and upgradation of the
various irrigation jobs under this mega Suleimanki Barrage, Trimmu Barrage,
project. The NESPAK-led joint venture has Panjnad Barrage and Pakpattan Main Canal
completed feasibility studies and detailed are under the implementation stage.
designing for the rehabilitation and NESPAK has also completed feasibility
upgradation of the Suleimanki Barrage, studies for controlling seepage and water
Trimmu Barrage, Panjnad Barrage, logging along the Trimmu-Sidhnai Link
Pakpattan Main Canal and Distribution Canal, Rehabilitation of Rasul-Qadirabad,
Qadirabad-Balloki, Balloki-Suleimanki Link
Canals and Water Resources
Development in Smaller
Cholistan. The feasibility study
and detailed design of “Extension
of Irrigated Agriculture in Greater
Cholistan” are in progress.

40 NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018

 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
AND DAM ENGINEERING SECTOR

Sindh Water National Drainage

Sector Programme
Improvement
Phase-I Project
A NESPAK joint venture has completed
monitoring and evaluation for the Sindh
Water Sector Improvement Phase-I Project
(WSIP-I) as per schedule.

The project costing Rs. 18 billion was

funded by the International Development
Association for the Sindh Planning and
Development Department. The key
elements of the project strategy included
strengthening of irrigation and drainage
institutions particularly the farmers' NESPAK in association with two foreign
organisations, Sindh Irrigation and Drainage firms has rendered consultancy serviced for
Authority and Area Water Boards and the National Drainage Programme (NDP)
investments to improve physical funded by the World Bank, Asian
infrastructure. Development Bank and the Japan
International Cooperation Agency. The two-
phase programme was carried out in all the
four provinces of Pakistan. The scope of
services included feasibility study, detailed
design, tender documentation, construction
supervision and expert advice for this Rs. 25
billion project. The objective of the NDP,
which was wrapped up in 2007, was to
improve the irrigation and drainage and
ensure its sustainability in Pakistan.

NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018 41

 Punjab Irrigation Kachhi Canal
System Project Phase-I
Improvement A NESPAK joint venture is providing design

Project
and construction supervision services for
the Kachhi Canal Construction Project

A NESPAK-led joint venture has completed

design and construction supervision
services for the Punjab Irrigation System
Improvement Project.
The project covered three sub-project areas
located in three irrigation zones, i.e.,
Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and
Faisalabad Irrigation Zones. This important
project was initiated by the Punjab
Irrigation Department at a cost of Rs. 12
billion. A selected system of channels
including associated structures has been
lined/rehabilitated and upgraded under this
project funded by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Phase-I amid hostile security situation. The
project costing Rs. 80 billion aims at
developing and irrigating 290,000 hectares
of agricultural land in Dera Bugti, Naseer
Abad and Jhal Magsi in the Balochistan
Province. This canal off-takes on right side
of the Taunsa Barrage in the Punjab
Province having a total length of 500 km out
of which 300 km is in Punjab. The rest 200
km falls in Balochistan. The Phase-I consists
of Main Canal & Distribution System up to
Dera Bugti.

42 NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018

 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
AND DAM ENGINEERING SECTOR

Remodelling of Lower Chenab

Warsak Right Canal System
Bank Canal Project
System
A NESPAK-led joint venture is rendering
detailed design and construction
supervision services for Remodelling of
Warsak Canal System Project in Peshawar
and Nowshera Districts of the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province. Awarded by the KPK
Irrigation Department, the project entails
the construction of an auxiliary tunnel, a
300 cusecs pump house for lift irrigation,
cross drainage structures, cross regulators,
head regulators, aqueducts, outlets, and
bridges. With the initiation of this Rs. 12
billion project, NESPAK has made strong
foundation in the water sector in the KPK
Province.
NESPAK has carried out design, tender
documentation and construction
supervision services for Rehabilitating
Lower Chenab Canal System Project as per
contract obligations. The project costing
Rs. 12 billion was awarded by the Punjab
Irrigation and Drainage Authority and
financed by JICA. Main works comprised
rehabilitation/re-section of canal prisms
and raising & strengthening of canal banks.

NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018 43

 Trimmu-Panjnad Rehabilitation &
Barrages Modernisation of
Improvement Jinnah Barrage
Project A NESPAK joint venture has reviewed design
and supervised construction works for the
A NESPAK–led joint venture has been Rehabilitation & Modernisation of Jinnah
entrusted with the project management, Barrage near Kalabagh in District Mianwali.
tender documentation design review and The project costing Rs. 12 billion was
construction supervision for the Trimmu- awarded by the Punjab Irrigation and Power
Panjnad Barrages Improvement Project Department.
(TPBIP). The TPBIP is aimed at rehabilitation
and upgrading work of Trimmu and Panjnad
Barrages. The project costing Rs. 16 billion
is jointly funded by the Punjab Government
and the Asian Development Bank.

44 NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018

 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
AND DAM ENGINEERING SECTOR

Alborz Integrated Mangla Dam

Land and Water Raising Project
Management A NESPAK-led consortium of local and

Project, Iran
foreign firms undertook feasibility study,
detailed engineering design, tender
documentation and construction
The Alborz Integrated Land and Water supervision for this project of immense
Management Project Sari, Iran was national importance. The purpose of
completed according to schedule in seven Rs. 102 billion expansion project is to regain
years. Awarded by the Mazandaran the reservoir capacity lost due to
Golestan Regional Water Company, the sedimentation, store more water and
World Bank-funded project was a landmark increase power generation. The Dam has
for NESPAK in the field of integrated water been elevated from 1,234 feet to 1,264 feet
resource management. NESPAK prepared with an additional storage capacity of
feasibility study, project planning and 2.88 MAF.
detailed design for this pilot project in the
Alborz Basin in the Mazandaran Province in
northern Iran on the eastern Caspian Coast.
The project costing US$ 120 million was the
largest overseas project won by NESPAK.

NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018 45

 Wadi Dayqah Mirani Dam
Dam, Oman Project
The Wadi Dayqah Dam is the highest dam in This 40m high earth-filled dam was
the Sultanate of Oman with a total height of constructed across the Dasht River in the
about 75m and a huge reservoir containing Balochistan Province to create a reservoir
adequate amount of water to feed the having a 400 MCM storage capacity. NESPAK
water supply system for the downstream carried out engineering studies, project
users. NESPAK provided detailed design and preparation report, economic evaluation of
construction supervision services for this the project and PC-I followed by the
dam project in Wadi Dayqah, costing US$ detailed design of the dam, spillway, a 2m
290 million. The project, which was dia tunnel, irrigation system, cost estimates,
completed in December 2009, aims at tender documentation, technical
supplying water to Muscat, Mazara, Hayl-al- specification and management consultancy
Ghaf, Daghmar and adjoining areas for services. The Mirani Dam Project costing Rs.
drinking and irrigation purposes. 7 billion was put into operation in 2007.

46 NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018

 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
AND DAM ENGINEERING SECTOR

Obudu Dam Dams in Southern

Rehabilitation Region of Saudi
Project, Nigeria Arabia
NESPAK is providing design review and
supervision services for 15 under-
construction dams in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia. The job is divided into two different
contacts i.e., “Dam Projects in Jizan, Aseer
& Najran” and “Qanunah & Yabah Dam
Projects.” The Ministry of Environment,
Water and Agriculture, Riyadh has awarded
NESPAK the two projects at an overall cost
of US$ 217 million. The purpose of these
NESPAK in a joint venture with a German dams is to control the floods and supply
firm carried out “The Rehabilitation of drinking water to Aseer, Jizan, Najran and
Obudu Dam” Project in Obudu -Cross River Makkah Al-Mukarramah Regions of the
State in Nigeria under the 2nd National Kingdom.
Urban Water Sector Reform Project. The
project aimed at guaranteeing the safety The types of the dams being constructed
and integrity of the reservoir for enhanced are concrete gravity, earth-filled and roller
urban water supply. compacted.
The consultancy contract service for
“Engineering Supervision of Obudu Dam
Rehabilitation Works” was awarded by
Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Water
Resources and financed by the World Bank.

NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018 47

 Zarqa Ma’een Nai Gaj Dam
Dam Project, Project
Jordan The Water and Power Development
Authority has entrusted NESPAK with
“review of feasibility study, preparation of
project planning report, detailed
engineering design and tender
documentation for the Nai Gaj Dam Project,
District Dadu, Sindh.”
As per the latest detailed design study
carried out by NESPAK, the dam will be an
earth-core rockfill dam, located 65 km
north-west of Dadu city on River Nai Gaj at
the terminal ridge of Kirther Range. With a
59m height the dam reservoir will spread
over an area of about 5,000 acres having a
gross storage capacity of 0.300 MAF with
live storage capacity of 0.160 MAF. The dam
is meant to irrigate an area of 28,800 acres
through high-efficiency drip irrigation
system. In addition, 4.2 MW of hydropower
will be generated. NESPAK completed
NESPAK in a joint venture with a Jordanian
consultancy services for this Rs. 70 billion
firm is providing construction management
project in 2011.
and supervision services for the Zarqa
Ma’een Dam project in Jordan. The project
was awarded by the Ministry of Water and
Irrigation, Jordan Valley Authority. Work on
this project costing US$ 15 million is
continuing at a good pace.

48 NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018

 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
AND DAM ENGINEERING SECTOR

Attabad Landslide Al-Jufainah Flood

Dam Protection Dam,
The Attabad Landslide Dam was completed Oman
with the required spillway deepening to El.
2,368 metres and the construction of ferry NESPAK won this Flood Protection Dam
track. NESPAK was engaged to provide Project in Wadi Al-Jufainah in the Sultanate
consultancy services for the supervision of of Oman. The project costing US$ 116
spillway deepening works, design and million was awarded by Oman's Ministry of
construction supervision of ferry track and Regional Municipalities and Water
preliminary feasibility study for lowering the Resources in 2015. NESPAK scope of
Attabad Lake water through tunnel (s) services includes design review and
under this Rs 1 billion project. construction supervision. The project
features a 30m high and 2.46 km long
plastic concrete-core earthfill dam with
gross storage capacity of 16 million cubic
metres.

NESPAK PROFILE 1973 - 2018 49