New canals threaten Pakistan's Indus Delta livelihoods

Residents of Pakistan's Indus Delta are concerned about six new canals planned for the Indus River. They fear these canals will make more land barren and increase the risk of it being swallowed by the Arabian Sea. The canals are part of a $6 billion initiative to cultivate barren land and mechanize agriculture. However, local officials warn that water shortages in Sindh and Balochistan could worsen, as the canals may divert water from existing sources. The Indus Delta has already shrunk significantly due to historical water management practices. Many villages have disappeared, and local livelihoods have shifted from farming to fishing as land degradation continues.