National Water Way on Pakistani Rivers (CPEC extension)

[mzeeshanfahd]

The below picture are a thousand words alone and further elaboration of idea is below

Guys I have been promoting this idea for some time now and want it to reach concerned quarter so that they can discuss this issue in detail and after through analysis implment this idea and I suggest it to be considered as part of CPEC project. I know there are people here who belong to think tanks and can not only discuss pros and cons but also suggest it at appropriate levels.

I just wanted to share the idea of my great teacher to prepare a national water way on the river Indus that will expand to all the rivers covering almost Sindh, entire Punjab, KPK and which will start from north (even Kabul river can be linked) and go all the way down to Arabian sea. Recently Gen Sisi of Egypt did something similar in his country, its just like a new Suez canal.

I will try to launch this idea on Facebook and other places in hope that it may reach concerned quarters of government and planner who are desperately trying to find different projects that will not only enhance our economy but raise jobs for people under CPEC program. I didn’t know how to propose this project and to whom so I have prepared this short description for this project and am also ready to further elaborate the idea if anyone wants to discuss. I wish that this idea reach the concern quarter.

I may not be able to explain my complete idea in words and I leave it to your imagination to complete the idea of national water way. It may turn out to be another "GT road of sher shah suri" for the people of our country, you can imagine that owing to that great general's effort we are even now benefiting from the same route. This can be the next economic nuclear bomb of Pakistan ...... just give some time and think over it.

BENEFITS OF STRATEGIC PROJECT : THE NATIONAL WATER WAY ON INDUS RIVER (proposed Under CPEC Umbrella)


1- Water Reservoir spanned across the country: This national water way can become our water reservoir for the whole country that is spanned over hundreds of mile and water will be available to every city and in great quantity and will help in rising the under earth water table level in the whole country as well.

2- Half fuel consumption: The biggest benefit will be that freight carrying large barges or ships going downhill (north to south) will be going almost free of cost due to gravity or very less fuel consumption and we would only consume fuel when they would be coming from south to north (up direction) this can be a huge benefit to economy.

3- Jobs creation : This project will not only provide a great economy boost but will create a very large number of jobs linked to water like small people who cannot afford trucks may built small boats and adopt load carrying vessel business, water way police, telecom sector boost along the national water way so on and so forth.

4- National/ international Tourism : Waterway will enhance business related to tourism in all of country as the water way will also become a tourist resort.

5- New industry: Luxury cruise business, boat industry, marine industry, marine games industry etc on a national basis .

6- New Ports/Towns : Industries / ports / towns can be built anywhere along the waterway.

7- Maintenance free: No/very less maintenance required for the national water way compared to road and railways so the project is more of one time expenditure in nature with very less operational cost.

8- Fourth Means of Transportation: We already have road, rail and air means of transportation this can become our fourth means as well.

9- Fishery : Whole nation will benefit from another food source available through out the country, will create jobs result in a complete economy cycle.

10- Reduce Security Importance of Karachi / Gawadar Ports : This will convert out complete country to a numerous ports and we will not be restricted to two or three ports eventually reducing security related criticality of ports, vessels may come in up north and unload their goods at the point of choice and eventually every city will possess the potential to become karachi.

11- Flood reduction : this large reservoir will be able to absorb extra water in the flood season and if not completely remove floods it will be able to reduce the water significantly hence causing less damage to surrounding areas.

12- Mass Micro Electricity Generation Industry: we can plan to install a high voltage grid that can be linked to the micro generator along the national water way.

13- Link Existing canals: all the existing canals can be linked to this national water way and can act small water roads to nearby cities.

And much more you only need to think on the lines and you will realize that if we somehow arrange the budget this project will be a game changer for our economy.

I want you people to discuss it and maybe with luck we can convey it to concerned people ....

 

[Fracker]

Good idea on paper, but cost will be extremely high and it will be connecting to which country? When Suez canal started many companies got broken whole world was interested in building same which made it happen, but in this case I don't see who will be interested in building this project and the path which goes nowhere,

On the top Pakistani economy cannot afford this project. Same money can be utilized to build 10s of dams, canals those will also give same benefits (other than transportation).

 

[third eye]

I just wanted to share the idea of my great teacher to prepare a national water way on the river Indus that will expand to all the rivers covering almost Sindh, entire Punjab, KPK and which will start from north (even Kabul river can be linked) and go all the way down to Arabian sea. Recently Gen Sisi of Egypt did something similar in his country, its just like a new Suez canal.

Great idea !

One question - what will you use for water ?

Sisi did it to sea water.

 

[Sipahi]

I don't think it is going to happen in near future as it is very very expensive project and we already have worlds largest water canal network available in Pakistan.

However after the successful implementation of CPEC, if there will a need then why not.

 

[mzeeshanfahd]

thanks guys for critics and favor ..... this will help further refine the concept ......

four main questions up till now and that how I can answer the first two

1- budget is too high

2- how much water do we require to implement this idea (from third eye--- please clarify if I misunderstood your question)

Pakistan has one of the world’s’ most extensive irrigation networks with, potentially, thousands of kilometers of navigable channels. Some can be developed immediately at a nominal cost. Others need more extensive work. A barge carrying 500 tons can operate in 5 feet of water. Many such barges tied together, towed by a single tug, can carry several thousand tons. A bigger barge carrying 1,500 tons needs only 7 ft of water, while 10 ft of water are sufficient for 3,000 ton barges. There is great flexibility in the type and size of barges to be used, depending on available depths of water. Major cargo movement is North/South, along the Peshawar/Karachi gradient, which is the same as the flow of the Indus River. Rivers are obstructed at places by dams and barrages. Obstructions on some can be overcome by existing locks, while short bypasses are easy to be constructed on the rest. At places rivers are shallow. Simple and cheap solutions are available, dredging a channel being one. Where that is not technically feasible very cheap still-water canals can be built. A still-water canal is no more than a ditch filled with water, with gates at both ends.

In the Northern 200 kilometres of Indus, down to Kalabagh, waters are deep and bridges are high. Very little work needs to be done on its navigable channel. The next useable stretch is the fascinating new Kacchi Canal, running parallel to the Indus along its West Bank. 300 kilometres with depths of 12 to 14 feet are in the Punjab, 200 kilometres in Baluchistan. This motorway on the River’ is ready for use, after removing some obstacles. A third useable stretch of 200 kilometers is available on the giant Nara and Jamrao Canals in Sind. 700 kilometers of the 1,200 km between Karachi and Peshawar are thus ripe for cargo transport immediately. Link and irrigation Canals in Punjab are also usable, to supplement “farm-to-market” roads. these numbers I have taken from a web site cannot remember which one.

Hence the budget is not that high it it look from the surface of this project's concept


3- where will the money come from

I already raised question related to budget and also suggested that may be we can get it from CPEC or recently raised Eurasian consortium can also invest in the same as they can become the major beneficiaries .
We need to thoroughly investigate the above details and come up with budgetary details I am very hopeful that it will be far less than anticipated ..... provided my above assessment is right .... may be if some one from navy or irrigation can further elaborate.

4- what countries are we trying to connect (question from Fracker)

Sir .... why are we creating the CPEC so that the countries up in the north like china , Eurasian countries may be even Russia can benefit from it and linking their economies to ME and western countries through warm waters, hence I presume that economic scenario bears quiet similar signature to the Suez canal and even new Suez canal (recently built). Our own transportation can benefit from it as well, we have already afghan-pak trade agrement in place which can also take advantage from it.

 

[Shah01]

Very good idea and I have been thinking about this for some time.
Sea Freight is the cheapest way to transport goods followed by Railway where possible followed by Road and Air.
Our existing canal system cannot support this idea due to having low bridges and water control structures (these are normally built with bridges to control the flow of water after every few miles). All Canals also don't run year round. Only the main canals would have water in them most of the year. In order to use the existing canal system major works will need to be performed.
Financing this would be a major challenge followed by availability of water as Pakistan is already a water scarce country. I can calculate a guesstimate of how much it will cost to build such a water way. Let me know if you have some figures in mind.

Maintenance free: No/very less maintenance required for the national water way compared to road and railways so the project is more of one time expenditure in nature with very less operational cost.

It won't be maintenance free as Indus brings millions of tones of silt every year.

11- Flood reduction : this large reservoir will be able to absorb extra water in the flood season and if not completely remove floods it will be able to reduce the water significantly hence causing less damage to surrounding areas.

How big the water channel be? Do you have a figure in mind so we can calculate the amount of water needed? I am not sure if you have come across this blog:
Fateh Gandapur's Blog on Water Issues of Pakistan: All Pakistan Grand Canal from Chashma Barrage to irrigate Kachi plain in Baluchistan

12- Mass Micro Electricity Generation Industry: we can plan to install a high voltage grid that can be linked to the micro generator along the national water way.

This will become a hurdle and a bypass structure will need to be built for the barges.

 

[New Resolve]

Barrages and Dams along the way, prob not feasible.

 

[Paksanity]

The below picture are a thousand words alone and further elaboration of idea is below

View attachment 259206

Guys I have been promoting this idea for some time now and want it to reach concerned quarter so that they can discuss this issue in detail and after through analysis implment this idea and I suggest it to be considered as part of CPEC project. I know there are people here who belong to think tanks and can not only discuss pros and cons but also suggest it at appropriate levels.

I just wanted to share the idea of my great teacher to prepare a national water way on the river Indus that will expand to all the rivers covering almost Sindh, entire Punjab, KPK and which will start from north (even Kabul river can be linked) and go all the way down to Arabian sea. Recently Gen Sisi of Egypt did something similar in his country, its just like a new Suez canal.

I will try to launch this idea on Facebook and other places in hope that it may reach concerned quarters of government and planner who are desperately trying to find different projects that will not only enhance our economy but raise jobs for people under CPEC program. I didn’t know how to propose this project and to whom so I have prepared this short description for this project and am also ready to further elaborate the idea if anyone wants to discuss. I wish that this idea reach the concern quarter.

I may not be able to explain my complete idea in words and I leave it to your imagination to complete the idea of national water way. It may turn out to be another "GT road of sher shah suri" for the people of our country, you can imagine that owing to that great general's effort we are even now benefiting from the same route. This can be the next economic nuclear bomb of Pakistan ...... just give some time and think over it.

BENEFITS OF STRATEGIC PROJECT : THE NATIONAL WATER WAY ON INDUS RIVER (proposed Under CPEC Umbrella)


1- Water Reservoir spanned across the country: This national water way can become our water reservoir for the whole country that is spanned over hundreds of mile and water will be available to every city and in great quantity and will help in rising the under earth water table level in the whole country as well.

2- Half fuel consumption: The biggest benefit will be that freight carrying large barges or ships going downhill (north to south) will be going almost free of cost due to gravity or very less fuel consumption and we would only consume fuel when they would be coming from south to north (up direction) this can be a huge benefit to economy.

3- Jobs creation : This project will not only provide a great economy boost but will create a very large number of jobs linked to water like small people who cannot afford trucks may built small boats and adopt load carrying vessel business, water way police, telecom sector boost along the national water way so on and so forth.

4- National/ international Tourism : Waterway will enhance business related to tourism in all of country as the water way will also become a tourist resort.

5- New industry: Luxury cruise business, boat industry, marine industry, marine games industry etc on a national basis .

6- New Ports/Towns : Industries / ports / towns can be built anywhere along the waterway.

7- Maintenance free: No/very less maintenance required for the national water way compared to road and railways so the project is more of one time expenditure in nature with very less operational cost.

8- Fourth Means of Transportation: We already have road, rail and air means of transportation this can become our fourth means as well.

9- Fishery : Whole nation will benefit from another food source available through out the country, will create jobs result in a complete economy cycle.

10- Reduce Security Importance of Karachi / Gawadar Ports : This will convert out complete country to a numerous ports and we will not be restricted to two or three ports eventually reducing security related criticality of ports, vessels may come in up north and unload their goods at the point of choice and eventually every city will possess the potential to become karachi.

11- Flood reduction : this large reservoir will be able to absorb extra water in the flood season and if not completely remove floods it will be able to reduce the water significantly hence causing less damage to surrounding areas.

12- Mass Micro Electricity Generation Industry: we can plan to install a high voltage grid that can be linked to the micro generator along the national water way.

13- Link Existing canals: all the existing canals can be linked to this national water way and can act small water roads to nearby cities.

And much more you only need to think on the lines and you will realize that if we somehow arrange the budget this project will be a game changer for our economy.

I want you people to discuss it and maybe with luck we can convey it to concerned people ....

There are some very practical issues with it. As I understand it, you are essentially talking of using Rivers and canal network. The proposed water way will run parallel to these or sometimes within them. Pakistan has a unique geography, unlike any in the world. Our rivers originate in world's highest mountains and while staying within country end up in sea. This means a very steep gradient through narrow valleys and gorges in the northern half. There are multiple dams, barrages and headworks all along. Ships can not cross them. Either side of rivers and canals is precious agricultural land, one of the finest in world. Digging a waterway means eating up those lands. Then how do you negotiate area where rivers run very steep in hilly terrain? Have you seen river gushing through, say in Kalabagh or Tarbela? How do you make a waterway which has moderate enough slope for ships to negotiate when ground elevation rises steeply in northern Pakistan? Making it viable for China and Russia means building a waterway through Karokoram . Im sure you did not mean that right? It may be viable from Mianwali to Sindh I think that too at the expense of agricultural land. We dont have enough water in winters to flood a waterway that long otherwise wheat crop will be severally affected. It will probably have to be shut down in winters.

 

[I S I]

Kala bagh dam banne nahiin dete, ye kahan se bane ga bc?

 

[bananarepublic]

what will happen when a flood comes unlike Egypt river Pakistanis Indus rive is full of silt it will just build up and block the river also a huge flood come every 10 or 12 years which will wipe out the whole canal system THIS IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE AND FEASIBLE PROJECT we can rather build a train route to all parts of Pakistan

 

[Gauss]

nothing better than road and rail.

 

[Mutakalim]

I don't think it is going to happen in near future as it is very very expensive project and we already have worlds largest water canal network available in Pakistan.

However after the successful implementation of CPEC, if there will a need then why not.

This so called world's largest water canal network (Which is by the way is there due to British rule) is in shambles due to incompetent and corrupt Agriculture and canal department. They are barely maintaining these previously build canals and asking them to undertake a major project is suicidal.

 

[xyxmt]

no possible, Pakistani rivers are not suitable for shipping, rivers have more width than dept plus rivers are dry 6 months of the year.

 

[mzeeshanfahd]

First of all I want to be very clear here as we discuss along the thread I have no interest what so ever in politics..... and doing just as per my initial aim described in post #1 and I really want this thread to be wealth of information that can be referred to any reasonable forum if we succeed in raising it at appropriate level.


I am currently digging deep on the record available on the net related to the same and found this detail interview of ex-chairman IRSA who has also proposed a very similar project which possess additional benefits of irrigating kachi bed of Baluchistan called"ALL PAKISTAN GRAND CANAL"worth approx 5 billion US$. YouTube is not allowed in Pakistan but here is the link of a detail program from him.....


(sorry I am not allowed to paste the link so have to distort the link)

1- y o u t u b e com/ watch ? v=A5tSKGtOhlA

Program khudkfeel ----- All Pakistan grand canal part 1 (ex chairman IRSA)


2- y o u t u b e com/ watch ? v=DTY7N3Uckh4

Program khudkfeel ----- All Pakistan grand canal part 2 (ex chairman IRSA)



he said that Indus river can be channelized on basis of manning principle (its span is 14 Kms wide) which will bear under mentioned fruits


a- raise in water level in channel hence barges, boats can row.

b- land reclamation which can be utilized

c- this will automatically drain the silt in the sea accumulating i the river bed. (shah01 --- silt answer)


Shah01


thanks for Fateh Gandapur's link it is too complex will try to extract normal understandable version from it with aid from map but it will take time. I would be grateful if you join along and help develop this thread as wealth of info, financial budgeting can be a starting point along with pros and cons of channel width sizing along with its impact on financials.

 

[bananarepublic]

what about FLOODS ???