Pakistan’s rich biodiversity, particularly millions of migratory ducks, geese, houbara and other birds that travel annually along the historic Indus Flyway, could face increasing environmental challenges due to declining freshwater availability, climate change and an illegal abeyance of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by India since April last year.
On Indus flyway, migratory birds bear the cost of IWT violations by India
By Fakhar-e-Alam
ISLAMABAD, Jul 19 (APP): Pakistan’s rich biodiversity, particularly millions of migratory ducks, geese, houbara and other birds that travel annually along the historic Indus Flyway, could face increasing environmental challenges due to declining freshwater availability, climate change and an illegal abeyance of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by India since April last year.
Besides posing serious risks to the already endangered Indus dolphin, masher and trout fish, experts believed that migratory waterfowl, including ducks, houbara bustards and cranes population, may also be adversely affected if freshwater flows of western rivers to Pakistani wetlands continue to decline after fascist Modi Govt illegal move.
Every winter, millions of migratory birds undertake one of nature’s most remarkable journeys, flying thousands of kilometers from the icy landscapes of Siberia and the Central Asian Republics (CARs) to the comparatively warmer wetlands, lakes and river systems of Pakistan.
These wetlands serve as vital feeding grounds, resting sites and breeding habitats before many species continue their migration and play key role in food chain.
Former chief conservator of wildlife, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Muhammad Mumtaz Malik, while talking to APP, said that Pakistan occupies a strategically important position on the Indus Flyway which is one of the world’s major migratory bird routes connecting Central Asia with South Asia.
“Ducks and other migratory birds arrive in Pakistan in large numbers every winter from Siberia and the Central Asian Republics and depend on Pakistan’s wetlands and lakes for food, shelter and breeding,” he said.
He said that ducks and other migratory birds after passing through Chitral often sit in Turbela lake built on river Indus for water and food needs.
He added that any reduction in sustainable freshwater supplies to wetlands especially Turbela lake could seriously affect the survival, breeding success and migration patterns of these birds.
According to Dr Mumtaz Malik, the arrival of species such as the Mallard, Common Teal, Northern Pintail and Northern Shoveller transforms Pakistan’s lakes and reservoirs into thriving centers of wildlife activity between November and March each year.
“These annual migrations are not merely seasonal events but represent an ecological phenomenon that has continued for centuries. Healthy wetlands ensure that migratory birds complete their journeys safely while also maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance,” he observed.
Dr Malik said Tarbela lake on the Indus River is among the country’s most important freshwater habitats, providing refuge to ducks, geese, cranes, raptors, houbara bustards and numerous other migratory species.
He warned that declining freshwater flows, shrinking wetlands and deteriorating environmental conditions could significantly reduce the suitability of these habitats and affect ecological balance.
“The country’s wetlands, rivers and coastal ecosystems mostly in Sindh function as indispensable stopover points for millions of migratory birds. Any degradation of these ecosystems will affect not only birds population but the entire food chain that depends upon healthy freshwater habitats,” he said.
He said that pollution, excessive discharge of floodwater carrying sediments and contaminants by India, and prolonged dry spells due to climate change have already caused negative effects on the wetland ecosystems in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Climate change, he said, has further complicated the situation by altering rainfall patterns, accelerating glacier melt and increasing the frequency of floods and droughts.
“Shrinking wetlands and environmental degradation are making migration increasingly difficult throughout the region. Protection of wetlands, lakes, ponds and ensuring sustainable freshwater flows of the western rivers are essential for the safe passage and long-term survival of migratory species,” he emphasized.
Dr Mumtaz Malik said Pakistan’s wetlands have historically supported millions of migratory birds because of the extensive Indus River system that nourishes freshwater lakes, marshes and floodplains across Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.
However, he maintained that reduced river flows, coupled with climatic changes besides global warming, are placing growing pressure on these fragile ecosystems.
Among the species of particular concern is the houbara bustard, a migratory desert bird that has long attracted the attention of wildlife enthusiasts, conservationists and falconers. According to Dr Malik, the species depends heavily on suitable habitats within the Indus basin during its seasonal migration.
He warned that fluctuating water levels and increasing salinity in freshwater ecosystems are already affecting aquatic life, vegetation and wildlife.
Naseer Khan, 50, a resident of Swabi said that when he was young, there was thousands of ducks and cranes were seen sit in Turbela lake. However, its populations were decreased in recent months apparently due to IWT violations by India.
He said enthusiasm of NGOs interested in wildlife and birds conservation were also declined.
“When freshwater declines and salinity increases, fish, birds and aquatic plants struggle to survive in their natural habitats. The entire ecological balance begins to weaken,” Dr Mumtaz said.
He observed that climate change-induced weather extremes have made water management increasingly unpredictable across the Himalayan region.
According to Dr Malik, excessive monsoon rainfall and accelerated glacier melting can trigger destructive flash floods, while prolonged droughts may dry wetlands, lakes and ponds especially in Sindh, Punjab and KP that sustain migratory birds and other wildlife.
“In such grim situations, wetlands become polluted by chemicals and plastic waste while drought leaves lakes almost lifeless, reducing water availability for communities, wildlife, bees and migratory birds alike,” he explained.
He said the ecological impacts are already becoming visible in Sindh coastal belt, where reduced freshwater reaching the Indus Delta allows seawater intrusion to move further inland, threatening fertile agricultural lands, mangrove forests and coastal biodiversity.
He said blocking of Pakistani water was serious human rights issue, urging international community especially World Bank that brokered the historic treaty in 1960 to put pressure on RSS backed Modi regime to immediately withdraw the illegal and unilateral decision and immediately restore the treaty to save living creatures from hunger and starvation.
Despite these emerging challenges, Pakistan has made significant progress in wildlife conservation over the years through expansion of forest cover, rehabilitation of degraded habitats and establishment of protected areas, enabling the country to remain an important winter refuge for pintails, mallards, teals, pelicans, cranes, geese and houbara bustards.
However, Dr Mumtaz Malik cautioned that continued degradation of wetlands and lakes could undermine decades of conservation efforts.
He estimated that more than 90 wildlife species including migratory ducks, Siberian cranes, saker falcons, white-backed vultures, the Indus dolphin, trout fish and several mammal species could face increasing ecological pressures if freshwater ecosystems continue to deteriorate.
“Wildlife protection cannot succeed without continuity of river water flow on constant basis,” Dr Mohsin Farooq, Chief Conservator KP Wildlife Department stressed.
“Migratory birds cross international borders without recognizing political boundaries. Their conservation therefore requires cooperation among regional states that also transcends borders,” he said.
Besides establishment of six national parks, he said that dhodial pheasantry at Mansehra district and Togh Mangara park in Kohat were established for conservation of wildlife and migratory birds.
He said illegal hunting of ducks and other migratory birds were banned in KP where heavy fines will be imposed against violators.
Wildlife experts and communities members have called for stronger protection of wetlands, strict enforcement of environmental and wildlife laws, expansion of protected areas, enhanced public awareness campaigns and greater participation of non-governmental organizations besides sustained rivers flows in conservation programmes.
They also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in safeguarding shared river ecosystems and migratory bird habitats.
Experts warned that unless urgent measures are taken to conserve wetlands, improve water flow and strengthen environmental cooperation, Pakistan could face long-term losses in biodiversity, ecosystem services and livelihoods that depend on healthy freshwater resources following IWT violations.
They stressed that protecting wetlands is not only essential for migratory birds but also for preserving ecological balance, ensuring food security and safeguarding natural heritage for future generations.
