KARACHI: A large volume of industrial waste and garbage was flushed into the sea in the wake of the monsoon rains and urban flooding in Karachi last week, environmentalists and fisherfolk said on Tuesday.
The downpours paralyzed Pakistan’s largest city, killing 17 people and renewing scrutiny of the city’s ability to cope with heavy rainfall. Floodwaters also swept plastic waste, bottles and chemical discharges through storm drains into the Arabian Sea, turning stretches of coastline into a dumping ground.
Beaches from Manora to Korangi Creek are now strewn with heaps of trash.
“While many witnessed the deaths and destruction caused by the recent rains in the city, few realize the downpours have also killed countless marine creatures,” Younus Khaskheli, a fisherman and local activist, said. “This has not only damaged the marine ecosystem but also severely affected the livelihoods of fishermen.”
Khaskheli said floodwaters surged through Karachi’s two major rivers — Lyari and Malir — carrying huge amounts of garbage into the sea. The Lyari River, running through most of the city, transported the largest share of debris, while drainage from Clifton and Defense added to the flow.
Industrial effluents from the Korangi Industrial Area also washed into the sea during the rains, compounding the pollution problem.
He said the blanket of waste along the shoreline, previously about 1.5 kilometers from the coast into the sea, had expanded to more than two kilometers after the rains and in some areas is nearly nine feet thick.
Men sail through littered waters at Karachi’s port on August 26, 2025, following monsoon rains in the city. (Photo courtesy: Mozzam Khan/Handout)
“Pollution has also wiped out fish nurseries from Korangi Creek to Port Qasim, mainly due to the industrial runoff,” Khaskheli said, adding that marine life in this stretch had suffered massively.
Experts say the problem is systemic and recurs with every spell of rain.
“It is very difficult to determine the exact quantity [of garbage flushed into the sea] because it’s unclear how much solid waste is collected and how much is not,” said Muhammad Moazzam Khan, technical adviser at WWF-Pakistan.
He cited figures from the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, which told a judicial commission of Justice Amir Hani Muslim that the city generates 12,000 to 13,000 tons of waste daily, but only 8,000 to 10,000 tons are collected.
“The rest becomes part of the environment,” he added. “Ultimately, this waste reaches the sea through rainfall and drains.”
Khan said poor disposal habits worsen the crisis.
“People throw garbage into stormwater drains, turning them into dumping grounds,” he said. “Authorities are responsible for collection, but citizens also need to reduce waste and avoid plastics.”
The impact is visible along Karachi’s shores and beyond, he added.
“When garbage enters the sea, some of it remains near the coast, some floats and some washes up on other beaches,” Khan said. “No beach in Pakistan is safe. Waste generated in Karachi can be seen along the entire coastline and beyond.”
While most commercial fishing grounds lie far from Karachi and remain safe, Khan warned that coastal waters near the city have become heavily polluted, forcing small-scale fishermen to travel further for their catch.
In Rehri Goth, Muhammad Ismail, a fisherman, is the sole breadwinner for his family of eight. As the population grows, his livelihood faces mounting challenges.
“I can’t travel far because of my illness,” he said while informing that he developed kidney problems two years ago, forcing him to limit his fishing trips.
“With more people and more garbage in the water, our chances of catching fish keep shrinking,” he added.
Arab News contacted the Karachi Port Trust and the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) for comment but did not receive a response.
