Environmental experts and community activists today raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of the River Indus, warning that its survival is at risk due to pollution, poor water management, and climate change. They called for urgent policy interventions to address the crisis threatening one of the world’s major river systems.

The concerns were articulated during a webinar titled “The Future of the Indus River and Space for Community Action for River Preservation,” held to mark the International Day of Action Against Dams and for Rivers, Water, and Life.

Mahmood Nawaz Shah from the Sindh Abadgar Board highlighted inefficiencies in water usage in agriculture, urging for better management practices. He opposed canal constructions that threaten water sustainability and stressed the need to keep regions like Cholistan ecologically intact.

Nasir Ali Panhwar, an environmental expert, noted Sindh’s vulnerability due to its dependency on rainfall and highlighted the severe impact of water shortages on agriculture. He emphasized the decline of the Indus River’s ecosystem, pointing out reduced water flows and pollution affecting wetlands and forests. A World Bank study was cited, identifying Sindh as a climate hotspot in South Asia.

Community activist Fatima Majeed expressed frustration over the political indifference to these issues, advocating for the restoration of the river and highlighting the ecological importance of river water for marine life. She criticized political influences that hinder local communities’ environmental justice efforts. Azhar Lashari and Zulfiqar Lund further stressed the need for recognizing the river as a living entity with inherent water rights.

Zeenia Shaukat, Director of The Knowledge Forum, criticized policymakers for developmental choices that harm the river and its communities. She pointed out the environmental damage from projects like Thar coal and Jamshoro coal power plants, alongside existing hydroelectric interventions. Shaukat lamented the suppression of local protests against such destructive projects by vested interests.