In terms of area, Balochistan is a big province of Pakistan mostly dominated by an arid to semiarid climate. The people of the province are mostly dependent on agriculture and livestock and these sectors are directly affected by the scarcity of water. Zhob district of Balochistan having Sabakzai Dam (SBD) is one of the districts of Balochistan which not only receive winter rainfall from western disturbances but sometimes monsoon rains too. To fulfil the water requirement for cultivation in a semiarid climate the delay action dams are of utmost importance. Most of the people in the study area have access to the Sabakzai Dam (SBD) water for irrigation. The pre-SBD and post-SBD scenarios show that the agricultural land use has increased, and previous barren land has been brought under plough. Also helpful in rising the depleting water table of the area. This is the key to reducing poverty in the region of subsistence economy and will encourage settled life.

KEY WORDS: Agriculture, Irrigation, Semiarid, Livestock, Scarcity, Delay action.