Deepening catastrophe

This letter refers to the article ‘Troubled waters and barren lands’ (March 27, 2025) by Kamila Hyat. Tail-end farmers in Sindh, particularly in the Indus Delta, are already suffering due to reduced river flows, seawater intrusion, and mismanagement of water resources. The proposed canals threaten to worsen the crisis, further eroding Sindh’s fragile ecology and pushing thousands into economic ruin. Sindh’s agriculture and ecology depend on a steady supply of Indus water, which is now being systematically drained for unsustainable projects.

Previous experiments, like the canal expansion in Rajasthan, have largely failed, turning only small patches of land green while leaving the rest barren. There is little reason to believe this latest project will fare any better. Meanwhile, Sindh faces environmental destruction as its delta dries up and saltwater creeps inland. If such injustices continue, they will deepen national divisions and weaken Pakistan’s fragile unity.

Dr Intikhab Ulfat

Karachi