Bahawalpur, Pakistan – Once a flourishing agricultural hub, the region encompassing Bahawalpur, Pakpattan, and Sahiwal has witnessed a steady decline over the decades. At the heart of this transformation is the Sutlej River, whose waters once nurtured these lands, sustaining communities and fueling economic prosperity. But as the river dried up, so too did the fortunes of those who depended on it.

The Sutlej was once the lifeline of Bahawalpur. During the British era, the Sutlej Valley Project turned vast stretches of barren land into fertile fields, making Bahawalpur one of the wealthiest regions in the subcontinent. The bounty of these lands was so abundant that when Pakistan struggled in its early days, the Nawab of Bahawalpur provided financial assistance to keep the fledgling state afloat. But Bahawalpur had no gold mines, no oil reserves—its wealth lay in its soil, and that soil was fed by the Sutlej.

The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 changed everything. In the agreement brokered between India and Pakistan, control of the Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas was handed over to India, while Pakistan received the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. In the years that followed, dams and barrages built upstream cut off the river’s natural flow into Pakistan, reducing the once-mighty Sutlej to little more than a trickle. What had been a thriving agricultural economy was thrown into disarray.

"Our lands used to yield three crops a year. Now, with the water shortage, we can barely grow one," said Muhammad Abbas, a farmer near Bahawalpur. "Our livelihoods are hanging by a thread."

For generations, farmers in Bahawalpur, Pakpattan, and Sahiwal depended on the Sutlej-fed canals from Sulemanki, Islam, and Punjnad barrages. With dwindling water supplies, agriculture has suffered immensely. The fertile lands that once flourished with wheat, sugarcane, and cotton are now turning barren. Tube wells, once a supplement to river irrigation, are now a necessity. But groundwater is depleting fast, and its quality has deteriorated, making it both expensive and, in many cases, unsafe.

"We used to have ample water for irrigation and for our daily needs. Now, it's a constant battle. We fetch water from far-off wells, and even then, it’s not safe to drink," said Ayesha Bibi, a resident of Pakpattan.

The consequences of the Sutlej’s decline extend beyond agriculture. The loss of water has led to an environmental crisis, with soil salinity increasing and desertification creeping into once-fertile lands. The depletion of the river has also triggered a public health crisis. Many locals are now forced to rely on contaminated groundwater, leading to an uptick in gastrointestinal diseases, liver disorders, and other ailments.

"Children in the village are suffering from stomach problems," said Dr. Sana Iqbal, a physician in Bahawalpur. "The water quality has deteriorated so much that even basic sanitation is a problem. It’s a public health crisis waiting to happen."

Despite the crisis, there is little hope for relief. While local authorities and NGOs have introduced measures such as rainwater harvesting and water-efficient farming techniques, the scale of the problem is far beyond what these initiatives can address. Some activists argue that Pakistan must renegotiate its water-sharing arrangements with India to restore at least some of the Sutlej’s flow. Others call for large-scale investment in alternative irrigation methods.

"We are pushing for better irrigation systems that rely on modern techniques," said Zubair Ahmed, an environmental activist in Bahawalpur. "But ultimately, the solution lies in a concerted effort to bring the Sutlej back to life."

For the people of Bahawalpur, Pakpattan, and Sahiwal, the struggle continues. The loss of the Sutlej has taken away more than just water—it has stripped the region of its past prosperity and cast uncertainty over its future.

"People here are resilient, but they need help," said Khalid Mehmood, a community leader from Sahiwal. "If the river doesn't return, Bahawalpur’s future looks bleak. We can only hope that the government and international partners recognize the urgency of this issue."

The fate of Bahawalpur now rests on whether those in power will acknowledge what the people here have long known: a land without water is a land without life.