The two storage dams which were to be built as part of the Indus Water Treaty were at Tarbela and Mangla. Now complete, the Tarbela Dam is located on the Indus near Tarbela about 47 kilometers upstream from Attock. It is a multi purspose project designed to store 11.0 million acre feet of water and o generate 2.1 million kilowatts of electricity. It irrigates part of the Potwar Plateau, but its main function is to supply water to the Chashma Jhelum Link Canal through which the Trimmu Sidhnai Mailsi Bahawal Link System is also fed. The Tarbela Dam also feeds the Taunsa Panjanad Link Canal. The Jinnah, Chashma, Taunsa, Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri Barrages built on the Indus are supplied with water from the Tarbela Dam in winter when the flow is low.
The Mangla Dam which was completed in 1969, is located on the Jhelum and has a storage capacity of 5.5 million acre feet. In future , it will be possible to raise its storage capacity to 9.6 million acre feet. It supplies water to canals irrigating he chaj and Bari Doabs. The water is also used to generate electricity. Ultimately, three million kilowatts of electricity will be generated from this dam.