ISLAMABAD: Practical restoration work has begun at Badri Pond under the Recharge Pakistan project, marking a major milestone in efforts to strengthen water storage, improve groundwater recharge and build long-term climate resilience through ecosystem-based adaptation.
Speaking about the initiative, WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan said Pakistan’s increasingly frequent floods and droughts are symptoms of a changing climate that is placing growing pressure on communities, ecosystems and water resources.
He said restoring the ability of natural systems to conserve, store and manage water could provide an important part of the solution, adding that investment in ecosystems such as Badri Pond was ultimately an investment in long-term climate resilience.
The restoration work follows extensive technical assessments and consultations with government partners and local communities to ensure that the intervention responds to both ecological requirements and local priorities.
Restoring a Critical Seasonal Water Source
For generations, Badri Pond has served as an important seasonal source of water for local communities, livestock and biodiversity. However, sediment accumulation, blockage of natural water channels and erosion of embankments have gradually reduced its capacity to store and retain water.
Under the restoration plan, approximately 415 metres of natural flow channels will be restored, sediment will be removed from one hectare of the pond, and 211 metres of embankments will be strengthened.
According to Recharge Pakistan Senior Director Muhammad Fawad Hayat, the interventions are expected to increase the pond’s water storage capacity by approximately 20,000 cubic metres and strengthen water security for an estimated 2,957 households.
The Badri Pond restoration is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026 and represents one of the first ecosystem-based adaptation interventions being implemented under Recharge Pakistan.
$72.9 Million Climate Adaptation Initiative
Recharge Pakistan is a seven-year, US$72.9 million climate adaptation project being implemented by WWF-Pakistan in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and the Federal Flood Commission under the Ministry of Water Resources.
The project is supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), WWF and The Coca-Cola Foundation.
Operating across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan, the initiative seeks to reduce flood and drought risks, improve groundwater recharge, restore degraded ecosystems and promote nature-based solutions for climate resilience.
Carlos Peñaloza, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, said strengthening watershed resilience requires strong partnerships and long-term investment. He said the foundation was pleased to support Recharge Pakistan as it moves from planning towards practical implementation of nature-based solutions aimed at improving water security and strengthening communities for generations.
Meanwhile, Hemant Mandal, Director for Asia and the Pacific at the Green Climate Fund, described the Badri Pond restoration as an important step in translating climate finance into tangible adaptation outcomes.
He said restoring natural ecosystems alongside conventional infrastructure demonstrates how nature-based solutions can deliver lasting benefits for both communities and the environment.
The Badri Pond intervention is expected to demonstrate how working with natural systems can complement conventional infrastructure, reduce disaster risks, improve water security and strengthen long-term resilience in some of Pakistan’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
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