Jhelum’s Dying Houseboats: A Community on the Brink of Collapse

Jhelum’s once-thriving houseboat community is on the verge of extinction. Once home to 800 houseboats, the river now hosts just 61, many in a state of disrepair. A government-imposed repair ban pushed houseboat owners into financial ruin for years, and though the restriction has now been lifted, the damage may be irreversible. Struggling to recover from neglect and economic devastation, these families are demanding urgent rehabilitation. To make matters worse, a proposed water transport project on Jhelum threatens their already fragile existence. For this dwindling community, time is running out.