ISLAMABAD: The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on Wednesday organised a media exposure visit to its groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting project at Kachnar Park in Sector I-8, presenting it as an innovative solution to urban flooding and declining groundwater levels in the capital.

Journalists from print, electronic, and digital media visited the site to observe the initiative, which has been developed in collaboration with WaterAid and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR). The project demonstrated how nature-based solutions could address two major urban challenges: managing monsoon flooding and restoring depleted aquifers.

Speaking to the media, IWMI’s Strategic Programme Director for Water, Food and Ecosystems, Dr Mohsin Hafeez, explained that the system captures rainwater runoff and channels it into underground aquifers through a scientifically designed recharge well. This process helps reduce surface flooding while replenishing groundwater reserves.

He noted that during the 2022 monsoon season, the recharge well at Kachnar Park returned around 1.9 million gallons of rainwater to the aquifer, raised the local water table by nearly four metres, and reduced flood peaks in Nala Leh.

Encouraged by these results, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) installed 50 similar wells across Islamabad, collectively recharging nearly 10 million gallons of water during the same season.

Dr Hafeez said the project’s impact became even more evident during the 2025 monsoon, when Islamabad received unusually heavy rainfall. The Kachnar Park well alone diverted approximately 19 million gallons of stormwater underground, easing pressure on the city’s drainage system and helping restore dry boreholes in surrounding areas.

The site is equipped with modern monitoring instruments, including a piezometer, weather station, and rain gauge, allowing experts to track groundwater levels and system performance. According to IWMI, the data collected has played a key role in validating the model and supporting its expansion.

Highlighting policy developments, Dr Hafeez said rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory for new buildings in Islamabad under CDA by-laws introduced in 2023. He added that the federal cabinet has also approved green building codes incorporating rainwater harvesting provisions nationwide.

Emphasising the need for wider adoption, he urged federal and provincial governments to promote such systems to address growing water scarcity. He stressed that effective urban planning, supportive regulations, and community participation are essential to scaling up these solutions and ensuring long-term water security in the country.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2026