AS the world marks Wetlands Day, Pakistan’s critical ecosystems find themselves in an unenviable position. The country’s 780,000 hectares of wetlands — nature’s own water-management infrastructure — are diminishing at an alarming rate. The timing could hardly be worse. Pakistan is grappling with a severe winter drought, with rainfall 40pc below normal levels. Farm output, particularly wheat production, could plummet by half. In such circumstances, functioning wetlands — which act as natural reservoirs and flood barriers — become invaluable. Yet Pakistan has managed its 19 internationally recognised Ramsar sites with remarkable ineptitude. The problems are particularly acute in Sindh, home to 10 Ramsar sites. Take Keenjhar Lake, which supplies drinking water to Karachi’s millions. Industrial effluents pour in unchecked, while water availability dwindles. Similar stories plague Manchhar Lake and the Indus delta wetlands. The country’s environmental protection agencies are mere spectators.

This is a peculiar form of economic self-harm. Wetlands provide ecosystem services worth billions annually through flood protection, groundwater recharge, and support for fisheries and agriculture. Their degradation threatens not just biodiversity but also livelihoods and food security. The climate change ministry has made encouraging noises about wetland restoration as part of its drought-mitigation strategy. But we have a history of producing ambitious environmental policies that simply gather dust. Implementation remains the Achilles’ heel. Rapid action is needed on three fronts: stringent enforcement of existing environmental laws, dedicated water allocation for wetland maintenance, and a comprehensive restoration programme. The economic returns would far outweigh the costs. But this requires political will and bureaucratic coordination — both rare commodities. If Pakistan’s wetlands continue to deteriorate at the current pace, the country may find itself facing not just an environmental crisis but an economic and social one too. We better save them.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2025