City kills the golden goose

Unchecked dumping of industrial chemicals and livestock waste into the sea is pushing Karachi's coastal ecosystem toward a crisis, with serious consequences for marine life and the fishing community, according to the Coastal Media Centre.

In a statement, the organisation said that the coastal area of Rehri Goth remains heavily polluted, as untreated industrial effluent and sewage continue to flow directly into the sea. The contamination, it warned, has brought the fishing industry to the verge of collapse.

The group highlighted that pollution is not only disrupting fish breeding but also exposing fishermen to various health risks. Thousands of gallons of untreated wastewater are reportedly discharged into the sea daily, causing widespread damage to marine ecosystems and undermining the livelihoods of those dependent on fishing.

According to spokesperson Kamal Shah, waste from Bhains Colony - including animal dung from cattle farms - as well as chemical discharge from textile and leather dyeing factories is being dumped into coastal waters without restraint.