This is aerial footage of the Ravi River at the junction where the Hudiara Drain flows into it. It’s heartbreaking to see untreated industrial effluents being dumped into the river, not only killing aquatic life but also introducing toxic chemicals back onto our tables through agricultural produce grown using this polluted water.

This is the heartbreaking situation of a canal near Kasur, where polluted waters have accumulated to the point that the water is completely hidden from view. The foam is so toxic that it has killed all life within the canal, and as it moves through agricultural lands, it continues to pollute the surrounding water and soil.

Unchecked urban development in Lahore mirrors a similar situation across many parts of the country. Unfortunately, this has contributed to many issues we face in our cities today. The impact on the climate is just one part of it—it has affected local economies, disrupted local cultures, and altered family and village life in these areas. Centuries-old trees have been cut down and replaced with non-native species.