The Deadly Grip

Exploitation of natural resources has turned rivers into poisoned wastelands, worsening the crisis.

Shabbir Hussain Imam

"The Earth is what we all have in common." — Wendell Berry

This is call for clean environment, a call more urgent than ever. In Pakistan, the situation has become a crisis. People struggle to find clean drinking water and air continues. For many, life has never been as hard as it is today. It seems as if every day brings more difficulties and more hardship. The burden of survival is heavier than ever, getting worse.

Clean air, clean water and healthy environment — these are basic rights of every human being which are denied in Pakistan. The promise of improvement seems a distant dream, with no real hope in sight.

Clean environment is a critical need in Pakistan as people struggle for basic necessities.

It is perhaps rare that anyone exploits natural resources as ruthlessly as the powerful do today. The capitalist system, with its relentless thirst for profit, has turned Pakistan’s rivers — once the lifeblood of the nation — into dried-up, poisoned shadows of what they once were. The fertile waters that nourished the land were drained for development, factories and projects. What was once the cradle of life is now sinking under the weight of exploitation.

The small towns and villages of Pakistan are suffering under this system. Farmers whose families have lived along these rivers for generations are now losing their land. Multinational corporations, trying every trick in the book to maximize their profits, are turning the once fertile soil into a polluted wasteland. The rivers are dying; the water has become bitter, muddy and poisonous. The creatures that once thrived in the waters have disappeared, victims of the greed that drives our modern world.

The pursuit of wealth and profit has become the beating heart of the capitalist machine. And in Pakistan, this pursuit has come at a terrible price. Once lushly vegetated areas in southern Punjab, where rivers once flowed freely, are now vast, barren deserts. But this is not a natural disaster. It is a man-made tragedy. Multinational companies have depleted the rivers, utilizing the water for their business activities. When the rivers cease to flow, the land also suffers.

Farmers, villagers, and individuals struggle as rivers are diverted for development.

Life has become an ongoing challenge for the farmers, villagers, and individuals who depended on these rivers for their existence. Development projects are changing the landscape by constructing dams, barrages, and new buildings to control and redirect water flow for corporate purposes. However, for the inhabitants of Sindh, who were previously sustained by the Indus River's waters, even the smallest amount of water is now a valuable scarcity.

What implications does this have for the future of individuals relying on the land? Multinational corporations and international companies show no concern for the farmers, villagers, or their hardships. They are only focused on making money. And if that entails transforming the planet into a desolate, devoid of life environment, then let it be.

Ruthless capitalism commodifies nature, leading to environmental degradation and species extinction.

This system, known as ruthless capitalism, has transformed all things into products for sale. Land, water, forests, and animals are now viewed as commodities to be marketed and purchased, rather than valued natural resources. What was previously utilized for the benefit of everyone is now solely used by few. We have sold rivers, cut down forests, contaminated land, and caused the extinction of numerous species. Profit is become the sole priority, regardless of the impact on the environment.

However, the question remains: is this unavoidable? Is this truly the sole path of progress for a nation like Pakistan? Do we have to give up everything - our rivers, our land, our own future - in the name of progress? If we persist on this course, future generations will receive a polluted and destroyed land. What kind of legacy will we pass on to the children of today, who will ultimately inherit this land? A desert, polluted water, and infertile soil?

Governments and corporations prefer to refer to their initiatives as "development." They promise to generate employment opportunities, enhance the economy, and positively impact the population. However, if the rivers are lifeless and the soil is contaminated, has anything truly been accomplished? The previously prosperous land, sustained by the Indus River, is now a mere shadow of its former self. The farmers, whose lives have always been closely connected to the land, now gaze upon their fields with feelings of fear and powerlessness. They are watching their means of living disappearing.

The Indus River, once a symbol of the land's fertility, is now a source of toxins. It no longer supports existence; it ends it. Governments might propose large-scale initiatives like dams, barrages, and business ventures, but who will bear the costs of the resulting harm? Who will be held accountable for the demise of the rivers and the transformation of the land into dust?

The only way to save ourselves is by fighting for the environment, going against the system that has polluted our rivers, soil, and air. We require a fresh mindset - a system that safeguards natural resources rather than taking advantage of them. It is essential that we conserve the planet in its current state. Our rivers, forests, and land should not be seen as items that can be exchanged for financial gain. They are valuable possessions that must be protected for the future.

Appreciate earth as a gift, not resource.

This battle will be challenging. We will need to confront powerful governments, corporations, and the capitalist structure responsible for causing this devastation. However, it is a battle that is worth the effort. Rivers, forests, and land are the property of everyone. It is important to defend them, not only for todays need but for the benefit of the future generations too. The earth should be appreciated as a gift, not exploited as a resource. This is a moment of realization and action.