Report: Farida Abdul Ghaffar and Safeer Ahmed
Photos: Safeer Ahmed, Abdul Salam, Faraz Ahmed and Faadi Ali
Manchar Lake is Pakistan’s largest natural freshwater lake, located west of Sehwan between the Dadu and Jamshoro districts of Sindh. Historically, it has been an ecological spot and a lifeline for surrounding communities. The lake used to support an important ecosystem enriched with freshwater fish, migratory birds, and a unique culture of the Mohanna Community living on houseboats, shaped over centuries. Today, the lake has lost its potential as a strong ecosystem due to conflict in lake management; depositing industrial and agricultural polluted water into the lake.
During research in 2023, the team of Heritage Cell at NED University (HC-DAPNED) observed the survival of the last floating village consisting of only 44 houseboats, all in poor condition with an estimated lifespan of merely 1-2 years. Recognizing the urgency, the HC-DAPNED, supported by the Cultural Protection Fund (UK), launched a project in 2024 titled, “Manchar Lake Mohannas -Safeguarding the Last Surviving Houseboat Village from Extinction”, led by Prof. Dr. Anila Naeem, focusing on the aspects of restoration, sustainable economic development and promoting awareness of the Mohanna culture and lifestyle – as an indigenous houseboat village. Under this project, all 44 houseboats boats of last surviving village were restored, extending their life expectancy to 15-20 years and helping sustain the cultural heritage of the Mohanna community.
Along with the restoration of houseboats, the HC-DAPNED has now been actively engaged with the community for their upliftment and capacity building, establishing alternate means of economic sustenance. Simultaneously, various activities are planned to raise awareness among society for the importance of this unique houseboat-living culture of Mohannas and the role of Manchar Lake in balancing the water-based ecosystem in the region. Under the awareness initiatives, two trips with students from two different schools were carried out by the team of HC-DAPNED on 27th September and 16th October 2025. The objective of the tours was to raise awareness among the local students of the area and to provide them with firsthand exposure to the environment of the lake and to promote the unique culture and lifestyle of the Mohanna community, which has been living on the lake throughout the centuries.
In coordination with Younis Burdi Baloch, local Primary School Teacher, two schools were identified from Sehwan, and the registration process, along with parents’ consent, was initiated, having at least 15 students (girls and boys), studying in grades 6-8, and two faculty members for each trip.
The first trip consisted of a group of 18 students (10 girls and 8 boys), accompanied by 2 teachers of A.D. Ideal Public High School, Sehwan, and the second trip included 17 students (boys) with two teachers of Government High School, Sehwan.
Both tours were designed with multiple activities including knowledge-sharing about the lake and associated culture, houseboat (Galiyo) ride, observation of lake’s aquatic life with bird-watching, on-boat sketching, visit of fishing market and interaction with the community members. The tours provided the students with first hand experience of the lake’s ecology, the unique lifestyle of the Mohanna houseboat community, and the cultural significance of this living heritage.
Headed by Safeer Ahmed, Project Team member, the first tour began with a Hurro (fishing boat) ride from Jhangara-Bajara (a location where houseboats are parked during monsoon season) and second tour commenced from Lalwa (a location where the houseboats are parked for a longer time in a year). Through Hurro rides, students were taken to the newly made houseboat, where a brief introduction was exchanged between the students, Mohanna representatives and the organizing team.
Houseboat (Galiyo) ride began with a briefing by the Project team, outlining the historical and ecological importance of the Manchar Lake and the traditions and lifestyle of Mohannas. Muhammad Yousif Mallah, houseboat dweller and Younis Burdi Baloch, narrated the tale of Mohanna glory to tragic survival and the consequences of flushing industrial waste to the lake. They highlighted the environmental degradation affecting the lake and its inhabitants. In addition to this, Abul Salam Mallah, Project Team member explained the process of boat repairing, construction and the carved ornamentation.
After the briefing session, participants received their souvenirs, tote bags including snacks, p-cap, candy mug, chest pin, sketchbook and stationary kits for the sketching activity.
During Galiyo boat-ride, students explored the lake through a guided boat tour, observing the floating houseboats, fishing methods, and day-to-day life of the Mohanna.
The Project team encouraged students to take out their sketchbooks to record their creative reflection as they journeyed through the lake’s landscapes and community. Students paused to sketch scenes that inspired them. Their drawings captured the Mohanna life showing their houseboats with birds, floral carvings on panels, boat structure and surrounding ecosystem. The Project team and teachers actively helped and guided them with the sketching activity and documented their artworks acknowledging their artistic impressions.
The Mohanna community enthusiastically showed their pet birds and appreciated the students to put up their queries and know more about the Mohanna community. They also observed their fish drying practices under the scorching sun.
These educational tours to Manchar Lake provided an eye-opening experience that bridged classroom learning with real-world cultural and environmental contexts. The interaction with the Mohanna community not only enriched students’ understanding of indigenous lifestyles but also underscored the urgent need to protect Pakistan’s natural and cultural heritage.
The school faculty members thanked the local community of the Mohanna houseboat village for their warm welcome, the guides who explained the lake’s ecology and heritage so patiently, and the Project team including Ar. Safeer Ahmed, Ar. Abdul Salam, Faraz Ahmed, and Faadi Ali, student intern who organized this educational tour for the students in close coordination with a local primary school teacher Younis Burdi Baloch.
The tours were concluded with a feedback session with the participants to understand and improve the organization and scope of the upcoming school tours.
