BADIN: Sources of fishermen’s livelihood in Badin district are rapidly disappearing due to severe shortage of fresh water along the coastal belt and the continuous discharge of toxic effluent into the sea, said leaders of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) on Wednesday.

In a press release, the PFF held two local sugar mills and the LBOD (Left Bank Outfall Drain) system responsible for releasing the polluted water directly into the sea while blocking the flow of fresh water.

They said the faulty design of the LBOD diverted water far into the open sea, destroying natural lakes that once supported thousands of fishermen.

According to the PFF, 13 lakes that served as a major source of livelihood for local fishermen were completely destroyed after the devastating cyclone of 1999 when breaches in the LBOD allowed seawater to advance inland. At present, only Sada Bahar Lake remains, spanning hundreds of acres and serving as the sole source of income for thousands of fishermen.

The lake also held cultural importance as people from across Sindh, including political, social, literary and cultural figures, gathered there every year to celebrate the New Year festivities with music and cultural performances, they said.

The PFF leaders warned that three drains — Wanhar Golarachi, Mir Western and Amir Shah — were discharging saline water into Sada Bahar Lake.

If advancing seawater entered the Amir Shah drain, it could severely damage millions of acres of fertile land and pose a serious threat to the cities in Golarchi and Badin talukas, they said.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2026