As summer approaches, families across Pakistan prepare for their annual journeys to the cool and scenic valleys of Azad Kashmir where cascading waterfalls, glacial lakes, and pine-covered mountains offer a brief escape from the heat.
But this year, a growing sense of unease threatens to overshadow water tourism in Azad Kashmir due to illegal abeyance of IWT by India in April last year.
Concerns over India’s illegal move to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance have sparked fears not just among policymakers and experts, but among ordinary tourists and local communities whose lives revolve around water.
For people like Peshawar-based lecturer Ahtisam Qaiser, the trip to Azad Kashmir is more than a vacation but it is a cherished ritual to enjoy the breathtaking waterfalls of Azad Kashmir besides exploring its awesome lakes.
“Every summer, I travel with my family to explore the mesmerizing lakes and waterfalls of Neelum and Rawalakot in Azad Kashmir,” he said while packing for a week-long journey. “It’s about joy, peace, and reconnecting with nature.”
His itinerary reads like a love letter to Kashmir’s natural beauty and its emerald waters of Ratti Gali Lake, the tranquil shores of Banjosa Lake, and the challenging trek to Chitta Katha Lake. These destinations, along with lesser-known gems like Patlian and Zalzal lakes, draw thousands of visitors and water sports lovers each summer.
Yet beneath the excitement lies a quiet worry due to recent reduction of water flow in Chanab river by India. “If water flows in western rivers are reduced, these places could lose their charm,” Ahtisam said. “When there is no water, there is no tourism, meaning poverty and unemployment in rural areas.”
“Nature, food and water are at risk due to IWT repeated violations by the RSS backed Hinduvata regime,” he said.
Azad Kashmir’s tourism industry is deeply tied to its waterways. In the lush valleys of Neelum and Hattian Bala, waterfalls like Jamgar Waterfall and Cham Waterfall are not just scenic attractions but they are lifelines for local economies.
Visitors flock to these sites for picnics, trekking, water rafting and adventure sports, supporting small businesses, guides, transport operators, and hotel owners to earn livelihood for their families.