Water development, particularly on the River Indus, has been seen for several decades as an important element of national development in Pakistan. The Indus valley has become one of the largest systems of irrigated land in the world. The Tarbela Dam on the Indus was at the time of its construction the largest dam in the world. While the area of irrigated land in Pakistan has expanded enormously, much of this soil is now waterlogged, and its salt content is rising.

Sources:
o Pearce, Fred, The Dammed, pp. 195-202.