Pakistan is home to majestic mountain ranges, mesmerizing lakes, mystical desert regions, and wondrous hill stations. Furthermore, there are dams in Pakistan and a mighty list of rivers in Pakistan that adds to the beauty of our country. Scenic views and topographical features make our country one of the world’s most visited tourist countries.
The calm and deep rivers of Pakistan are mesmerizing to watch. The tranquilizing rhythm and peaceful ambiance of the waves have the ability to instantly bring peace and tranquility to anyone. In addition to their serene beauty, rivers also hold significant economic and political significance.
Rivers in Pakistan are not only an addition to the beauty of the region but also a source of drinking water and are also used for generating electricity and irrigation. Therefore, the rivers of Pakistan are important elements of a stable economy and increasing GDP. The magnificent lakes in Pakistan are also giant water bodies that add to the beauty and attract tourists from all over the world.
Quick Facts about Rivers in Pakistan:
There are many eminent educational institutes, healthcare institutes in all provinces of Pakistan. Moreover, rivers in Pakistan are one of the important natural resources and amazing tourist attractions. There are many surprising facts about the rivers of Pakistan which are not known by many.
There are 24 rivers that flow in Pakistan. Among these 24 rivers, seven flow in Baluchistan, five in Punjab, 8 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 4 in Sindh. The river system of Pakistan starts from the Karakoram and Himalayas Range.
The river system consists of 5 rivers that pass through the province of Punjab. In fact, the word Punjab means “the Land of Five Waters”, which refers to five main rivers, i.e., Ravi, Jhelum, Sutlej, and Bias. All these five rivers together build the biggest system of irrigation in the world. River Indus is the largest/longest river in the world, with a length of 3,180 Km.
Lists of Top 5 Rivers in Pakistan:
Realtorspk.com is here with a list of rivers in Pakistan that flow from Punjab and, combined together, make the largest irrigation system in the world.
| River | Length | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. River Jehlum | 725 KM | Pir Panjal Range |
| 2. River Chenab | 960 km | Baralacha La Pass |
| 3. River Ravi | 720 KM | Chamba |
| 4. River Sutlej | 1,450 KM | Mount Kailash |
| 5. River Indus | 3,180 KM | Senge Zangbu, Tibetan Plateau, Gar River |
Let’s have a look!
1. River Jhelum
The majestic river is located in eastern Pakistan and northern India. The river passes through the Kashmir Valley. The river is a tributary of river Chenab, and the total length is approx. 450 miles i.e. 750 Kilometers.
The river flows through beautiful areas; therefore, many whimsical stories are attached to the originality of the river.
Among many claims about the etymology of River Chenab, the most popular two narrations are as follows:
- A group of people believe that when “Dar-e-Azam” reached the banks of the river (now called River Jhelum) after conquering numerous battles, he placed the flag on its bank, and the place was called “Ja-e-Alam” after the incident, which means the location of the flag. With time, people started calling the site Jhelum instead Ja-e-Alam.
- According to another group, the river etymology is linked with Sanskrit. The name is derived from the “Sant” legend. As per the details, the River was named by Lord Shiva Vitasta, and it is mentioned in their holy scripture Rigveda.
River Jhelum starts from Veirnag Spring Pir Panjal, Kashmir’s foot, and then it joins with Lidder River at Khanabal and joins its tributes to Sindh at Shadipora in Kashmir Valley.
The River flows through Wular Lake and Srinagar before entering Pakistan. There are many popular tourist points in Kashmir.
River Jhelum connects with Pakistan and AJ&K the most beautiful northern area of pakistan at the Kohala Bridge, located east of Bakote Circle. After that, the River joins with the Poonch River and flows to the Mangala Dam reserves in Mirpur District. Many famous lakes are attached to River Jhelum, for instance, Anchar Lake, Nigeen Lake, Wular Lake, etc.
2. River Chenab
One of the mesmerizing water beauties in Pakistan is known as River Chenab. The River flows between two countries, India and Pakistan, like the Jhelum River. The River starts from the upper Himalayas in the district of Lahual and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh state of India.
It is one of the longest rivers in Pakistan. The River then flows through the Jammu region towards the Pakistan Punjab plains and then flows to River Indus near Uch Sharif. Also explore the most beautiful hill stations of Pakistan.
River Chenab is one of the popular rivers in Pakistan that are known in the Vedic period. It is said that Alexandra the Great founded Alexandria town on the banks of the Indus called Uch Sharif. The River Jhelum and Ravi join Chenab, while Bias joins the River Sutlej, combining with Chenab and forming Panjnand near Uch Sharif.
The stream then runs to the southwest for around 45 kilometres and joins River Indus in Mithamkot. The River then continues its journey toward its final destination, the Arabian Sea.
3. Ravi River
The River is the most popular in eastern Pakistan and northwestern India. It is also one of Punjab’s important rivers of the Indus System. According to the Indus Water Treaty, the water of Ravi was allocated to India, and Indus Basin Project transferred water to the Indus system from western rivers to refill the River Ravi. Pakistan is blessed with natural beauty, explore the magnificent mountain ranges of pakistan.
The river traces can be found in Vedas, where the Ravi is known as the River Iravati. Ravi is popular as the headwater of the Indus Basin.
The River Ravi starts from Bara Bhangal, a Kangra district in India’s Himachal Pradesh. It drains a total area of 5,576 sq mi, which makes 14,442 km in India, and the length is 720 km. The water of Ravi also drains into the Arabian Sea through the Indus River in Pakistan.
The River plays a crucial role in Pakistan’s vegetation, including walnut, deodar, mulberry, Chinar, Kakkar, Olive, etc.
4. Sutlej River
River Sutlej is one of the longest rivers in Pakistan, and it flows from Punjab. India and Pakistan also share the river. In the local language, the Sutlej River is also known as Satadree. The water for the river starts from west of Lake Rakshastal in Tibet.
The river plays plenty of significant roles as it is a major source of hydroelectricity generation. The hydro project includes 1,325 MW Bhakra Dam, 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Dam and 1000 MW Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant.
However, the river’s water is allocated to India under the Indus Water Treaty between Pakistan and India. Upstream of the Bhakra dam, located across the Sutlej River, the annual flow measures approximately 14 million acre-feet (MAF). Also checkout the most famous deserts of pakistan.
5. Indus River
The Indus River, commonly known as River Sindh and Sindhu, is one of Asia’s largest rivers. The river was known in ancient Indians in Sanskrit as Sindhu and Persian as Hindu. Both words mean “the border river.”
The indus river passes through western Tibet (China), Ladakh (India), and Pakistan. The river runs through the region of Ladakh toward the Gilgit-Baltistan area and finally merges with the Arabian Sea.
The river boasts a vast drainage area surpassing 1,165,000 square kilometers (450,000 square miles). Its approximate annual flow is 243 cubic kilometers (58 cubic miles). Additionally, the river showcases fascinating geographical features. It originates from the mountain springs and glaciers in the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush ranges.
The water of the Indus River serves as one of the important resources in Pakistan’s economy, especially in the region of Punjab, where it is responsible for most of the agricultural production.
Other Popular Rivers and Tributaries Of Pakistan
Pakistan boasts a diverse river system that includes major rivers and tributaries. The following table comprehensively lists each river and tributary and their respective lengths.
| River/Tributary | Length (KM) |
| Dasht River | 430 |
| Gilgit River | 240 |
| Gomal River | 400 |
| Hingol River | 560 |
| Kunar River | 480 |
| Kunhar River | 166 |
| Soan River | 250 |
| Swat River | 240 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. How many rivers are in Pakistan?
There are over 24 rivers in Pakistan. The most significant rivers in the country are Ravi, Indus, Sutlej, Jhelum and Chenab.
2. Where do five rivers meet in Pakistan?
The five important rivers of Pakistan meet at the point of Panjnad, which is close to Mithankot.
3. Which is the longest river in Pakistan?
River Indus is the longest river in Pakistan.
Let’s wrap up:
So that’s all about the list of major rivers in Pakistan. These five rivers are important for the country and help various industries in Pakistan, including power generation, agricultural sector and tourism.
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