Community gathers to honor and protect Indus River

A group of children and local residents gathered on the banks of the Indus River near Taunsa barrage to celebrate the International Day of Action for Rivers. They expressed their love and respect for the river, which is vital to their lives and culture. Bakhtawar Benazir, a young girl, said, "Indus River is our lifeline. We cannot live without it." During the gathering, middle-aged Fazl-i-Rab Lund stood in the water to ask for forgiveness from the river. He expressed sorrow over how human activities have damaged the river's ecosystem through pollution and the construction of dams. Lund organized the event to reconnect with nature and recognize the environmental harm caused to the Indus. An EcoHubMap study revealed that the Indus is among the most plastic-polluted rivers globally, affected by heavy metals and untreated waste. Many local communities rely on this river, which flows 2,000 miles from the Tibet region in China. Lund and the local fishermen's organization, Sindhu Bachao Tarla, emphasized the river as a living entity that deserves respect. They criticized profit-driven perspectives that exploit the river and called for a change in how people view natural resources. Community members, including Khadim Hussain from Sindhu Bachao Tarla, warned that projects like the Green Cholistan could threaten the Indus's existence and harm local ecosystems. They also noted that restricting river flow could lead to more natural disasters, particularly impacting women and vulnerable communities. At the event, participants performed traditional songs and dances. They rallied, holding banners with messages promoting environmental protection and opposition to corporate exploitation. In a final gesture of respect, they offered flowers and sprinkled jaggery into the river, hoping to nourish its life.