Manchar Lake: Largest Lake of Pakistan

Manchar Lake is the largest lake of Pakistan, which is located in west of Indus River, Dadu, Sindh. Its size (due to flow of water) fluctuates during the season from from as little as 350 km² to as much as 520 km². Manchar Lake collects water from different tributaries and that water goes into the Indus River. It’s a rich source of fresh water for arid regions. The lake was created in the 1930s when the Sukkur Barrage was constructed on the river Indus. Manchar jheel is categorized as one of the largest lakes in Asia as well.

As being the largest resource of fresh water of Pakistan, it provides earning ways to fishermen and also supports other economic boosting activities such as irrigation. But, due to various reasons the lake is degrading on continuous basis. The major reason of its degradation is the environmental factors like the diversion of water from Indus and saline water leakage from agricultural fields to Manchar Lake. Except environmental factors, human interruptions are also degrading it. Interruptions refer to the human activities like construction of links from the lake and Main Nara Valley Drain, which put the saline water in a way to Manchar Lake.

Manchar Lake