It is part of the Thal Project which helps irrigate 770,000 ha (1,900,000 acres) in the Sindh Sagar Doab east of the Indus.

The barrage diverts an average of 283 m3/s (10,000 cu ft/s) of water into the 51.5 km (32.0 mi) long Thal Canal where it serves areas in Bhakkar, Khushab, Layyah, Mianwali and Muzaffargarh Districts with 3,362 km (2,089 mi) of additional canal branches and distributors.

The barrage can discharge up to 27,000 m3/s (950,000 cu ft/s) downstream with 42 spillway gates which are each 18.2 m (60 ft) wide.

[4] In June 2012 a major rehabilitation project for the barrage began.

The project includes the construction of a weir 244 m (801 ft) downstream to help dissipate energy from the spillway upstream of it.