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ivers have always been at the heart of human existence. Since ancient times, they have provided food, water and a reason for people to settle and build communities. Great civilisations, from the Nile in Egypt to Indus Valley, emerged and flourished along riverbanks. Today, millions of people rely on rivers to grow crops and earn a livelihood. In Pakistan, rivers continue to be the lifeline for countless people. However, instead of symbolising life and abundance, they are increasingly becoming the focus of rising tensions and conflict.
In Sindh, fishermen, farmers and political activists, including many from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, have voiced strong opposition to upstream canal projects. Many in Sindh claim that these canals will deprive them of their share of water.
In Swat, the people of Upper Swat, particularly the Torwali community, are resisting and protesting against proposed hydropower projects on the Swat River, initiated by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation. These projects plan to divert the river into underground tunnels for energy production.
Locals fear that this will deal a devastating blow to their economy, which mostly relies on tourism. Other sectors, such as agriculture and fisheries, will also suffer if the natural water flow is disrupted.
Popular movements to ‘protect’ rivers have a long and painful history. Development on rivers often comes at a heavy cost. It can cause displacement and changes in lifestyles.
The construction of Tarbela Dam in the 1970s displaced thousands of people. Some of them later complained that they had received little to no compensation.
When Daral Hydropower Project was constructed in Bahrain, Swat, the locals were promised royalty and employment opportunities. Locals say they got nothing.
According to some assessments, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam will displace nearly 35,000 people across 31 villages, submerging 4,100 homes and inundating 6 square kilometers of farmland to create a 100 square kilometers reservoir.
The Torwali, settled along the banks of the Swat River, say that more than 40 percent of them have been forced to migrate to urban areas in search of economic stability and escape from poverty. Those who remain rely almost entirely on the river and the tourism it brings. More development projects threatens to drive more of them away. They see it as a threat to their unique language and culture, which have thrived for centuries.
The Indus delta in Sindh has shrunk - from around 13,900 square kilometers in 1883 to 1,067 square kilometers in 2018 - due to the reduced freshwater flow. This has devastated marine life and over 60 percent of the region’s mangrove forests have vanished. Fisheries, once the backbone of coastal communities, have been pushed to the brink. Annual fish catches have plummeted - from 5,000 tonnes in the 1950s to 300 tonnes by 2019. More than 1.2 million people have been forced to leave the Indus delta.
Pakistan must rethink its energy strategy. Solar and wind power, combined with smaller, community-led hydro projects, can fulfill the country’s energy needs, without exacting a devastating toll on its people, rivers and ecosystems.
Some activists say Pakistan’s water management practices continue to follow the colonial era patterns in that engineers have designed and built canals and barrages without engaging with local voices. They say the federal authorities continue to make critical decisions without consulting local stakeholders.
Some of the affected communities view dams and barrages as a form of resource extraction, benefiting distant urban centres at the cost of local populations. When projects are proposed upstream, many Sindhis fear that scarce water will be stolen from them. In Swat and Diamer, the concerns differ but are equally urgent. These regions depend heavily on traditional river flows for farming, fishing and tourism.
Each of these cases presents a unique set of challenges. Yet human suffering, cultural erosion, forced displacement and irreversible loss of biodiversity are common themes.
Large dams change the rhythm of rivers, causing changes in the associated ecosystems and marine biodiversity. The Swat River, for example, is home to several fish species, including the renowned trout. This aquatic life is under threat. The Daral Hydropower Project has already diverted some of the water into tunnels, shifting the river’s equilibrium.
In Sindh, the proposed canal projects are expected to reduce fish populations, degrade marine ecosystems and diminish carbon sequestration. Water-logging could intensify in some areas and fertility decline. It is feared that the mangroves will shrink further, and the Delta dry up.
Some of these projects will also exacerbate climate vulnerability. In Swat, diverting the river’s flow could raise local temperatures and disturb the weather patterns. The region was among the hardest hit during the catastrophic floods of 2022. Diamer-Bhasha is situated in a delicate glacial zone. Development work there threatens to destabilise glaciers and trigger Glacial Lake Outburst Floods.
Alternatives to hydropower development exist. Pakistan has vast, untapped potential for solar and wind energy.
Land acquisition laws dating back to British rule are another problem. These allow the state to seize land on the pretext of “public purpose.” Compensation, it is alleged, is frequently delayed and inadequate. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples mandates free, prior and informed consent. In practice, detailed consultation with local communities is rare.
A more inclusive and sustainable approach is needed. Rather than imposing projects, the government should seek genuine community consent, ensuring that those most affected have a decisive voice in shaping their future. Transparent feasibility studies, robust environmental assessments and fair compensation mechanisms are essential.
Pakistan should also rethink its energy strategy. Solar and wind power, combined with smaller, community-led hydro projects, can provide for some of the country’s energy needs, without exacting a devastating toll on its people, rivers and ecosystems.
The writer is a freelance contributor