Balloki Headworks

Balloki Headworks is located on the Ravi River on the border of Nankana Sahib and Kasur Districts, Punjab, Pakistan.

History & Construction

Balloki Headworks was built during the British colonial era, between 1911–1913, as part of the Triple Canals Project. Its main purpose was to feed the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC), among other canals, to improve irrigation in the Doab region (the land between rivers). Over time, the original weir has been upgraded, converting it into a full barrage to better control water flow.

Structure & Features

The barrage/weir is 1,646.5 feet (approx. 502 meters) in length, divided into 35 bays, each about 40 feet wide, separated by piers. There is significant training work (bunds, groynes) to manage the river flow, guide it properly into the barrage, avoid erosion, etc. The Head Regulator associated with Balloki has 15 bays (~20 feet clear each) and a permanent sill plus a temporary sill (via operating gates) to manage silt and flow into the canal.

Function & Irrigation Role

The main canal taking off from Balloki is the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC). This canal irrigates large tracts of agricultural land in several districts. The barrage also serves other canals, including the Balloki–Sulemanki Link Canal. Rehabilitation and upgrades over time have improved its capacity for flood management as part of broader irrigation improvement programmes.

Events & Flood Behavior

Monsoon rains, combined with upstream dam water releases, pushed the Ravi River to exceptionally high flows in August 2025. At Balloki Headworks, flows peaked over 200,000 cusecs, a level rarely seen.

While heads of evacuation and relief efforts held off worst-case overflow here, significant flooding affected villages downstream, farmland was damaged, and many families were displaced. As of mid-September, water levels are falling, but the risk remains during rainy periods.