ozens of young volunteers gathered at Rawal Lake last week to clean the polluted reservoir, collecting garbage and removing dead fish. Some residents of the housing settlements lining the lake said the recurring deaths of thousands of fish reflected years of environmental degradation and administrative neglect.

Thousands of dead fish were spotted floating along the banks of Rawal Lake in recent days, prompting authorities to investigate the incident. The lake, formed by Rawal Dam, is one of Islamabad’s main water reservoirs and a popular recreational destination. The residents say it is facing mounting environmental challenges due to inadequate protection and poor management.

People visiting the lake have reported seeing both large and small fish floating dead at several locations. The sightings have raised fresh concerns about the deteriorating condition of the reservoir. Many have said the repeated fish deaths have become an alarming feature of the lake in recent years.

Residents say the upper reaches of the lake are littered with plastic bottles, shopping bags and other solid waste. Untreated waste from nearby areas continues to contaminate the water. They say visitors are now greeted by an unpleasant odour instead of the lake’s natural beauty.

“The smell of dead fish has made breathing near the waterfront difficult,” says local resident Sajid Abbasi. “The stench from the decomposing fish has discouraged people from spending time near the lake. This is a clear failure of the authorities responsible for protecting this important water body.”

The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency is waiting for the findings of an investigation to determine the cause of the latest fish deaths. Some environment protection officials say that increasing pollution may have reduced dissolved oxygen levels in the water. Sewage discharge, detergents and untreated wastewater entering the lake are considered among the possible contributing factors.

Some residents also blame indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste, particularly water bottles and shopping bags, by their neighbours living as well as visitors. They say the reservoir has been turned into a virtual dumping site despite its importance as a protected water body and a major source of drinking water.

Citizens have urged the relevant authorities to clean the reservoir, identify and stop the pollution sources and make the findings of its investigation public. They have also called for stricter enforcement of the prohibition of waste dumping and stronger environmental monitoring to prevent further ecological damage.

They warn that a failure to act promptly could lead to more fish deaths, further degrading water quality and causing long-term damage to the lake’s fragile ecosystem.

Only a few days before the latest incident, dozens of young volunteers had participated in a cleanliness drive at Rawal Dam to promote environmental protection and raise public awareness about keeping the lake clean.

According to a Capital Development Authority statement, the campaign was organised jointly by the CDA, the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad and Jazz World, with the participation of the Marium Foundation, a community-based organisation working in Banigala.

The latest incident is not the first of its kind. Fish deaths have become a recurring problem at Rawal Lake. Last year, too, residents had reported thousands of dead fish floating on the water. In 2024, a sharp decline in water levels had triggered another large-scale fish die-off. In 2023, the authorities had uncovered deliberate poisoning of the fish in the lake. The Islamabad Capital Territory Police later arrested members of a gang that had allegedly been poisoning Rawal Lake fish for decades.

Environmental experts say the repeated fish deaths over the years point to deeper ecological problems that remain unresolved. The residents say continued administrative inaction has allowed one of Islamabad’s most beautiful natural landmarks to deteriorate.

They say that the issue extends beyond biodiversity. Rawal Lake is a major source of drinking water for Rawalpindi and parts of Islamabad, making its deteriorating condition a matter of public health, water security and environmental sustainability that demands urgent coordinated action.

The author is a staff reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].