Gorakh Hill: Sindh’s Treasure under Threat

Sindh must decide whether Gorakh Hill is merely land to be exploited or a heritage to be protected.

Gorakh Hill represents both an opportunity and a warning. Properly protected, it could become a model of sustainable tourism, local employment and environmental education.

By Dr. Mazhar Lakho | USA

Dr. Kaleemullah Lashari’s keynote address at the Third Gul Hassan Kalmatti Conference carries a disturbing message: the crisis confronting the Khirthar Mountains is not simply a natural calamity. It is increasingly a man-made disaster produced by careless development, environmental neglect, weak regulation, and the exclusion of local communities from decisions about their ancestral land. His warning has particular relevance to Gorakh Hill, one of the most beautiful but poorly protected natural landscapes of Sindh.

Gorakh Hill is situated in the Khirthar mountain range in Dadu District, at an elevation of approximately 5,688 feet. Its relatively cool climate, dramatic rocky landscape and panoramic views have made it one of Sindh’s best-known tourist destinations. The Sindh Tourism Development Corporation promotes it as a major provincial attraction. Yet calling Gorakh a tourist destination is not enough. It is also part of a sensitive ecological, historical and cultural landscape that must not be sacrificed for short-term commercial interests.

Development without Environmental Responsibility

The tragedy of Gorakh Hill reflects a wider pattern in Sindh: governments announce ambitious development projects, allocate large amounts of public money and construct visible facilities, but give inadequate attention to environmental science, maintenance, transparency and the needs of surrounding communities.

Roads, resorts and tourism facilities can benefit the region, but development without careful planning can also scar mountain slopes, disturb natural drainage, increase soil erosion and generate uncontrolled waste. Heavy vehicles, unregulated construction and large numbers of visitors can damage a fragile landscape that took thousands of years to form.

A mountain cannot be treated like an empty plot available for concrete construction. Its slopes, water channels, vegetation and wildlife form an interconnected system. Cutting a road through a slope or blocking a natural watercourse may appear harmless during dry weather, but its consequences can become disastrous when heavy rains arrive.

This is the essence of describing Kirthar’s crisis as “man-made.” Nature may produce rain, heat and drought, but human decisions determine whether those natural events remain manageable or become catastrophes.

Tourism Must Not Become Exploitation

Gorakh Hill certainly has the potential to create employment and economic opportunities for Dadu, Johi, Wahi Pandhi and the surrounding settlements. However, tourism must be community-centered and environmentally sustainable.

At present, visitors frequently complain about hazardous roads, inadequate sanitation, insufficient accommodation, waste disposal problems and poor emergency arrangements. Tourism cannot be considered successful merely because thousands of people reach the summit. Success must be measured by safety, environmental protection, local participation and the preservation of the landscape for future generations.

The government should prevent indiscriminate construction and prohibit commercial activities that damage the mountain. Plastic waste, sewage, vehicle emissions and uncontrolled camping must be properly regulated. Every tourism operator should be required to follow environmental standards, and violations should carry meaningful penalties.

Most importantly, local residents must not be reduced to spectators while politically connected contractors and outside investors capture the benefits. The communities that have lived in the Khirthar region for generations possess valuable knowledge about its water sources, weather, wildlife and pathways. Their participation is essential to any credible conservation policy.

A Landscape of History and Identity

Dr. Lashari’s background as an archaeologist and conservationist gives his warning added significance. Kirthar is not simply a collection of barren mountains. It contains old settlements, traditional routes, archaeological remains, sacred places, indigenous knowledge and centuries of human interaction with the natural environment.

The name Gorakh itself is commonly associated with Gorakhnath and the older spiritual traditions of the region. This reminds us that Sindh’s landscape has always reflected cultural and religious diversity. Gorakh therefore belongs not only to the tourism department but also to Sindh’s collective historical memory.

The conference’s association with Gul Hassan Kalmatti is equally meaningful. Kalmatti devoted his life to documenting the land, history and indigenous communities of Sindh, particularly those threatened by land grabbing and destructive development. To honor him is not merely to hold conferences in his name. It is to continue his struggle for the protection of land, heritage and local people.

What Must Be Done

The Sindh government should commission an independent environmental and archaeological assessment of Gorakh Hill and its surrounding region. This assessment must be publicly available and completed before approving further large-scale construction.

A responsible protection plan should include:

* Strict zoning for construction and commercial activity;

* Scientific assessment of roads, slopes and natural drainage;

* Reliable emergency, medical and rescue facilities;

* Regulated visitor numbers during peak periods;

* Complete systems for sewage and solid-waste removal;

* Protection of wildlife, vegetation and water sources;

* Preservation of archaeological and sacred sites;

* Transparent publication of project budgets and contracts;

* Formal representation of local communities in tourism management;

* Independent annual environmental audits.

Gorakh should be developed through low-impact tourism: small eco-friendly lodges, guided hiking routes, local handicrafts, trained community guides and properly managed campsites. The purpose should be to experience the mountain—not to urbanize it.

Gorakh Is a Test for Sindh

Gorakh Hill represents both an opportunity and a warning. Properly protected, it could become a model of sustainable tourism, local employment and environmental education. Mismanaged, it could become another example of public money being spent while natural and cultural wealth is gradually destroyed.

Dr. Kaleemullah Lashari’s central message demands serious attention: disasters are not always imposed by nature. They are often manufactured through corruption, ignorance, reckless construction and institutional indifference.

Sindh must decide whether Gorakh Hill is merely land to be exploited or a heritage to be protected. Once a mountain ecosystem is permanently damaged, speeches, budgets and official promises cannot restore it. Gorakh belongs to the people of Sindh—and they hold it in trust for generations yet to come.

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