By Ramesh Raja
Karachi, a city that never sleeps, harbors a secret beneath its sprawling concrete and traffic—one that threatens its very survival. The Lyari River, once a thriving artery of life, now struggles under decades of neglect, pollution, and encroachment. If the city does not act now, the consequences will be catastrophic.
From Life-Giving Stream to Death Trap
The Lyari River stretches 50 kilometers from the Kirthar foothills to the Arabian Sea, and it was once the heartbeat of Karachi. Seasonal yet steady, its waters supported villages, farms, and communities along its banks. During the British era, it marked the city’s early boundary, feeding fish that sustained families and commerce. Before Partition, the riverbanks were lush with life, lined with greenery, farmland, and vibrant communities.
But the Lyari’s fate changed after the 1970s. Unplanned urban sprawl, industrial pollution, and illegal constructions narrowed its flow, turning this lifeline into a conduit for untreated sewage and industrial waste. Today, over 90% of its water carries toxic effluents, and heavy monsoon rains often transform it into a deadly flood channel. The 1977 floods killed more than 200 people and caused damages exceeding five billion rupees—a grim reminder of what neglect can unleash.
Encroachments and Urban Neglect
The Lyari River now threads through some of Karachi’s most congested neighborhoods: Sohrab Goth, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Golimar, Lyari Town, Garden, Mauripur, and finally the port area near Kiamari. Illegal housing, shops, and factories choke its banks, reducing water flow and turning the river into a hazard during monsoon. Low-income communities bear the brunt of the floods, facing property destruction, waterborne diseases, and even loss of life.
While the Lyari Expressway completed in 2018; restored 17 kilometers of riverbanks, the remaining 33 kilometers from the Northern Bypass to Sohrab Goth, remain a toxic, encroached corridor, threatening the city with every heavy rainfall.
A Demand for Preservation and Protection
Karachi cannot afford partial solutions. The full Lyari River must be protected, widened, and restored, with modern roads constructed on both banks to prevent future encroachments. This dual approach—river preservation combined with traffic corridors—ensures the free flow of water, prevents devastating floods, and enhances urban mobility for millions.
The success of the Lyari Expressway proves it is possible: vision, planning, and persistence can transform a neglected waterway into a symbol of progress. The remaining stretch is not just a river; it is Karachi’s lifeline, its natural drainage system, and a potential flood-prevention corridor. Ignoring it now will cost far more than investment in restoration.
Time is Running Out
The call is urgent: the Governments, Sindh authorities and Karachi civic planners must act immediately to remove encroachments, enforce pollution control, and construct protective roadways along both banks. The liyari River must be restored to its natural course, free-flowing and safeguarded, before another monsoon brings destruction, disease, and death. Karachi cannot survive another neglect-driven disaster. The Lyari River is not merely a waterway—it is the city’s lifeline. Preserving it is not optional; it is a civic and moral imperative. The city’s future depends on it.
