The Indus: Pakistan's 3,180 km lifeline
The Indus runs about 3,180 km from Tibet to the Arabian Sea. It feeds most of Pakistan's farms and powers Tarbela, a giant earth-filled dam.
The Indus is Pakistan's longest river, about 3,180 km from source to sea.
Its route
It starts on the Tibetan Plateau, flows through Ladakh into Gilgit-Baltistan, then runs south through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh. It reaches the Arabian Sea south of Thatta.
Why it matters
- Most of Pakistan's farmland depends on water from the Indus and its tributaries.
- The Indus Basin Irrigation System is one of the largest irrigation networks in the world.
- The Indus Valley Civilization, including Mohenjo-daro, grew along its banks about 4,500 years ago.
Tarbela Dam
Tarbela, on the Indus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is one of the largest earth-filled dams in the world. It stores water for farms and is one of Pakistan's biggest sources of hydropower.
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