Delta is facing massive losses due to unchecked sea intrusion, overexploitation of forests, urban land reclamation, and escalating coastal pollution
Seminar on “Climate Risks and Challenges in Sindh” held at SMIU
Karachi, Sindh
The environmentalists, academics, and community activists have sounded the alarm over the accelerating destruction of the Indus Delta, calling for urgent measures to safeguard both the fragile ecosystem and the livelihoods of its fishing communities.
At a seminar titled “Climate Risks and Challenges in Sindh: Regional Vulnerabilities, Emissions Control, and Institutional Strategies for Sustainable Action,” hosted on June 11, by Sindh Madressatul Islam University in collaboration with the Knowledge Forum, speakers highlighted the devastating impact of reduced freshwater flows in the River Indus.
The speakers highlighted that the reduction in river water flow has triggered widespread agricultural land loss, rampant sea intrusion, and a dramatic depletion of fish stocks, placing immense pressure on the delta’s population and biodiversity.
Ali Anjum of WWF underscored the crisis, noting that the delta, home to Asia’s seventh-largest mangrove forests, is facing massive losses due to unchecked sea intrusion, overexploitation of forests, urban land reclamation, and escalating coastal pollution. He warned that the shrinking freshwater supply is intensifying flood risk, land erosion, and the collapse of traditional livelihoods.
The consequences of these changes are stark: The Indus Delta has shrunk by over 90% in recent decades, millions of acres of fertile land have been lost to seawater intrusion, and groundwater salinity has rendered much of the region’s water undrinkable and unfit for irrigation.
Rising temperatures—projected to increase by up to 4°C by 2100—along with erratic rainfall and frequent extreme weather events, are further undermining crop and livestock productivity, driving food insecurity, and forcing rural populations to migrate to urban areas. Speakers at the seminar called for integrated, climate-resilient development strategies, legal protection for freshwater flows, and urgent institutional reforms to restore the ecological balance of the Indus Delta before irreversible damage occurs.
Mentioning land losses in 3 talukas i.e. Keti Bandar, Khharo Chhan and Shah Bandar, Mr. Ali Anjum said that so for 263,272 hectares of land have become baron. Ali Anjum from WWF said that agriculture losses of the area are Rs.4.2 million, fishery losses are Rs.3.5 million and forestry losses (mangroves and riverine are Rs.145.0 million. And if these trends continue for the next 25 years we shall bear Rs.4.1 billion losses. He further said that WWF study reveals that 1.5 inches per day of mangrove land is eroded.
Ali Anjum informed that 450 Million Gallon per Day (MGD) of untreated wastewater by more than 6000 industrial units dumped in mangrove habitats, leading to growth retention and degradation of marine ecosystem. The seminar also drew attention to the alarming ecological decline documented by researchers and community leaders.
Fatima Majeed of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum reported a sharp drop in fish stocks and mangrove cover, with many fish species now extinct and new mangrove plantations failing due to insufficient freshwater.
Read: Indus Delta’s Predator at Risk
She said that once a rich area, the Indus Delta area is now destroyed, and people are forced to migrate. Ms. Fatima Majeed said that there were 450 islands in 17 creeks of the Indus Delta, which were most beautiful, but now a few islands have been remained behind. She was of the view that the community living on the islands was prosperous in the past, but due to rise in the sea level and stoppage of Indus water in the delta, these islands have been destroyed and tens of thousands of people have been migrated to other places. She also said that about 4.2 million acres of the land of coastal districts of Sindh has been eroded by sea. She was of the view that the only solution of these issues is to release the water of Indus River into delta.
Ms. Zeenia Shaukat, Director of the TKF, explained about the NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions), which are climate action plans developed by individual countries as part of their commitment under the Paris Agreement (2015) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Each country sets its targets and updates them every five years, aiming to increase ambition over time.
According to her, NDCs are critically important for Pakistan because they provide a strategic roadmap for low-carbon development, climate resilience, and international collaboration.
She said effective implementation of Pakistan’s NDCs is essential not only for environmental protection but also for sustainable economic growth and the well-being of future generations.
Dean, Department of Social and Development Studies Dr. Jamshed Adil Halepoto, stressed the need to tackle the environmental challenges effectively.
Dr. Subhash, Chairman of Department of Social and Development of SMIU, in his opening remarks, emphasized that Pakistan is grappling with severe climate change challenges, with the Indus Delta among the worst affected. Dr. Muhammad Kamil Lakho conducted the session. (PR)
Read: Save The Dying Indus Delta
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