cross Pakistan’s mega cities, in one way or another, water supply and drainage have emerged as critical issues although its manifestations vary.

In Islamabad, critical water scarcity has surfaced, with a 47 percent shortage reported last month which month?. Lahore has a history of being submerged every time there is an unexpected heavy rainfall. In 2024, the rains shattered a 44-year-old record, receiving 360 mm of precipitation in just three hours. Karachi regularly faces storms that bring heavy rainfall that wreaks havoc, disrupting city life and exposing vulnerable populations to disaster-related adversities.

There is an urgent need for policy interventions that not only mitigate the impact of urban disasters but also lead to development that is environmentally sustainable, socially equitable and economically feasible.

For several decades, we’ve been remarkably careless with how we plan and develop our cities. We have treated the conservation of nature as an afterthought or something that doesn’t really matter. This short-sighted approach has cost us, not just economically, with the destruction of ecosystems but also in terms of tackling complex societal challenges we now face, especially those tied to climate and natural disasters.

Over time, more people have realised the steep cost of neglecting nature. This shift in awareness has led to the rise of nature-based solutions (NbS), defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as “actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems, benefiting people and nature at the same time.”

Given the climate-related challenges faced by urban areas in Pakistan, NbS can be the decisive factor in the fight against climate change and its challenges. As Islamabad faces water shortages, rainwater harvesting stands out as one of the most feasible NbS intervention options. The Capital Development Authority must mandate rainwater harvesting systems in every newly constructed house.

Besides its disaster risk reduction (DRR) benefits, this intervention will ensure that groundwater is recharged and stormwater is managed effectively. Additionally, the stored water opens opportunities for urban gardening and habitat improvement, offering potential livelihood benefits.

To replicate the success of rainwater harvesting, Pakistan can look at its northern neighbour, China, which has been a strong advocate for urban rainwater harvesting (URWH). China had faced water security issues due to rapid urbanisation, population growth and uneven investment in water infrastructure. It introduced URWH to manage rainwater at the household and community level, helping address these pressing issues.

The introduction of URWH did not bring overnight success. It was a gradual process, focused on long-term goals that reaped rewards over time. The true potential of NbS can only be gauged through its sustained, long-term implementation.

Over the last 30 years, China has gone through three phases: an initial development phase, followed by rapid expansion, and finally, the concept of sponge cities. During the 2010 Urban High-level Development Forum, China’s urban water challenges were categorised into four main issues: water scarcity, urban flooding, water pollution and damage to water ecology.

There is an urgent need for policy interventions that not only mitigate the impact of environmental disasters but also lead to sustainable development.

Given the unique nature of each problem, URWH emerged as a practical and effective solution, offering an integrated approach to rainwater management, one that collects, stores, treats and reuses rainwater in urban areas.

India has actively pursued mangrove plantations as a specific NbS intervention. In Kerala, the widespread destruction of mangroves in the Twentieth Century was followed by a transformative effort through the Grow Billion Trees programme.

Now, these mangroves protect Vembanad Lake and the coastal ecosystems. Beyond offering protection from flooding and reducing carbon emissions, they provide livelihoods for local communities and support marine life in ways that few other ecosystems can match. Economically, they feed the local fisheries and draw eco-tourists to the area.

From a climate standpoint, mangroves act as natural shields, defending against cyclones, storms and tidal waves, while also purifying water and boosting the overall health of surrounding water bodies.

Given the economic and disaster risk reduction (DRR) benefits that mangroves provide, their conservation along Karachi’s coastline is a critical priority for policymakers. Yet, despite efforts by various organisations and countless plantation drives, urban sprawl remains a growing threat to their future. In fact, over the years, mangrove land has been cleared to make room for housing developments, as well as commercial and industrial projects. Between 2010 and 2022, the Sindh Forest Department reported a loss of nearly 200 hectares of mangrove forests along Karachi’s coastline. This is a concerning trend for both the environment and the communities that rely on these ecosystems.

The term NbS serves as an umbrella for a wide range of ecosystem-based interventions. While this article mentions just two, there are many more, often rooted in the traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous people and local communities.

For NbS to be effectively integrated into policy-making and governance, strong government ownership and meaningful engagement with all stakeholders are necessary. This requires a top-down approach, where ministries not only embrace the concept but also align their policies accordingly, delegating responsibilities to the appropriate agencies. The first mandatory step in this process is identifying the stakeholders, who will bring us closer to successfully integrating NbS at the national level.

From a financial standpoint, the cost and benefits of interventions are the cornerstones in determining the success of NbS. For these solutions to be truly sustainable, the economic considerations must be given proper attention. Long-term benefits clearly outweigh the short-term costs. On top of that, ongoing policy support is vital to guarantee that long-term outcomes are realised. If these aspects are overlooked, NbS risks being treated as a temporary solution, ultimately leaving communities and ecosystems in a precarious situation.

NbS remains under-utilised globally. It holds immense potential to address pressing global challenges, improve human well-being and conserve the environment. For Pakistan, the concept of NbS offers exciting possibilities. The interventions can provide solutions to many of the country’s urban dilemmas. With the right policies in place, NbS can play a key role in mitigating the negative impacts of the climate crisis, strengthening community resilience and reducing disaster risks for citizens.

The writer, a UCL and LUMS alumnus, works at Oxford Policy Management. He is a co-founder of HamSukhan, a community-based learning platform