Greater Thal Canal (GTC) , Pakistan

Greater Thal Canal (GTC) falls in the territory of Jhang, Khushab, Bhakhar and Layyah districts. It helped in strengthening the agricultural, irrigation sectors of the country. The project has significant environmental impacts with no major resettlement issues.

The history of the Thal Canal Project goes back to over 130 years. It was in 1873 that the project was first conceived for the whole of Thal Doab. The proposal to irrigate this area was repeatedly brought up for discussion in 1919, 1921, 1924, 1925, and 1936 and in 1949. It was however repeatedly shelved because of the argument that it would severely hurt the water availability to the lower riparians. The project proposal once again came under discussion in 1975 when 30-billion rupee Greater Thal Canal (GTC) project has been approved and started. Greater Thal Canal (GTC) is being used for irrigation of Thal desert is situated in Punjab, Pakistan. It is vast area mainly between the Jhelum and Sindh rivers near the Pothohar Plateau. Its total length from north to south is 190 miles, and its maximum breadth is 70 miles (110 km) while minimum breadth is 20 miles. This region is divided into the districts of Bhakkar, Khushab, Mianwali, Jhang, Layyah, and Muzaffargarh. Its part in Jhang is on the left bank of the river Jhelum.