Lifeline of Sindh

For the people of Sindh, the Indus is more than a river; it is the lifeblood that flows through their homes, fields, and hearts, providing sustenance and survival like no other resource. However, constructing additional canals on the Indus threatens both the environment and the livelihoods of Sindh's most vulnerable communities. These projects, launched without adequate environmental assessments or community consultation, risk devastating consequences for the province. For centuries, the Indus has shaped the cultural, economic, and agricultural landscapes of Sindh. Yet the continued diversion of its waters for new canals poses a dire threat. Designed to expand agricultural land and support development projects elsewhere, these canals are draining the river’s already limited flow. The consequences are severe: rising soil salinity, loss of fertile farmland, and worsening water scarcity for both people and wildlife. Beyond environmental degradation, these projects are disrupting Sindh’s social fabric. Farmers, fishermen, and rural communities who depend on the river face displacement and economic hardship, with ripple effects that disproportionately affect women and children.

Research shows that the lower riparian regions of Sindh are already suffering from reduced water flows, leading to seawater intrusion that destroys agricultural land and contaminates freshwater supplies. Additional canal construction will only intensify this crisis, jeopardizing both the environment and the lives of millions. We cannot ignore the severe repercussions of unchecked canal expansion: soil erosion, habitat loss, and irreversible damage to ecosystems that have flourished for millennia. It is time for policymakers to acknowledge that short-term gains in one area cannot justify long-term losses for Sindh’s people and ecology. I urge both the provincial and federal governments to halt further canal construction on the Indus. Instead, we need sustainable water management policies, meaningful community engagement in decision-making, and stricter environmental regulations to safeguard this precious natural resource. Immediate action is essential, or we will pay the price in the future. Protecting the Indus is essential.

Muhammad Shahjahan Memon

Islamabad