Karachi opens Pakistan's first sponge park to save rainwater

Karachi Opens Pakistan's First Sponge Park

Karachi has opened Pakistan's first experimental water-resilient sponge park at Jamali Park in Gulberg Block 2. The park was inaugurated on Thursday. It is designed to absorb, store, and reuse rainwater instead of letting it flow into drains and eventually into the sea.

Partners Behind the Project

The six-month project was completed through a partnership between the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Pakistan), Gulberg Town Municipal Corporation, and the private sector.

How the Sponge Park Works

The system captures rainwater and water from the ablution facilities of a nearby mosque. After passing through several filtration stages, the water is stored underground or in tanks. It is then reused to irrigate plants and trees in the park.

Locally developed filters were installed beneath the park's water channels. These filters use layers of gravel, sand, silica, activated carbon, biochar, and zeolite.

• Gravel and larger particles remove soil and debris.
• Sand and silica trap finer particles.
• Activated carbon and biochar absorb chemical and organic pollutants.
• Zeolite helps reduce certain heavy metals and other contaminants.

After filtration, the water is transferred to underground storage or drainage systems.

Official Statements

Naim Ashraf Raja, director of biodiversity at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, told The Express Tribune that underground freshwater reserves had been extensively extracted through boreholes and other methods. He said it is essential to replenish them through natural processes.

He added that projects like sponge parks are important to ensure future generations do not face worsening water shortages. Such initiatives could benefit both humans and animals.

Gulberg Town Chairman Nusratullah called the inauguration a major milestone. He said climate change has become a serious global concern, with its effects also visible in European countries in recent years. He stressed the need for urgent measures to protect the environment and conserve water.

Sohail Ali Rizvi, director of WWF-Pakistan's Freshwater Programme, said the organisation revised its strategy about 15 years ago. It began working on water-related projects with the private sector in Lahore in 2012.

He said the Karachi project was developed through a collective effort. It introduced Pakistan's first sponge park, where locally sourced materials, including soil and small stones, were used to create filters. These allow rainwater to pass through filtration before being transferred underground or into storage tanks for reuse.

Plantation and Biodiversity Areas

The park features a dedicated area to encourage household-level plantation. Residents can scan barcodes to obtain plants, including indigenous species such as tamarind, almond, peepal, and gulmohar trees.

Those taking plants must commit to their proper care and growth. They must remain in contact with the park administration so the plants can be monitored as they develop into trees. The park also includes areas dedicated to biodiversity and butterflies.

Sponge Parks and Urban Flooding

Sponge parks are part of a wider approach to urban planning. This approach seeks to manage rainwater through natural and engineered systems rather than relying solely on conventional drainage infrastructure.

The concept involves creating surfaces and designated areas where rainwater can collect and gradually seep into the ground. Some projects also use underground tanks and reservoirs to store water. Specially selected plants and vegetation help with natural filtration.

By slowing the flow of rainwater, such systems can reduce pressure on urban drainage networks and help limit the risk of flooding.

Global Examples

The sponge city concept gained prominence in China, where a national programme was launched in 2014 to improve rainwater management and address urban flooding. Cities including Wuhan and Shanghai introduced water-absorbing parks, artificial reservoirs, wetlands, green roofs, and permeable pavements.

Copenhagen in Denmark introduced a cloudburst management plan after severe rainfall and urban flooding in 2011. Rotterdam in the Netherlands developed its water square concept. Singapore introduced projects under its Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme, transforming conventional concrete drains into natural waterways, green spaces, and recreational areas.

Experts said similar green infrastructure and nature-based solutions had also been adopted in Berlin, New York, and Auckland to absorb rainwater and reduce urban flooding.

Why It Matters for Karachi

Urban planning experts said sponge parks could be particularly useful in Karachi, a densely populated coastal city facing increasing challenges from intense rainfall, urban flooding, and water shortages.

Concrete surfaces, tiled areas, and paved roads across much of the city prevent rainwater from naturally seeping into the ground. As a result, water accumulates on roads and places additional pressure on the drainage system.

A sponge park could help conserve rainwater, replenish underground water reserves, support the growth of trees and plants, reduce urban temperatures, and improve the environment. It could also increase the usefulness of public parks.

Future Plans

If the experiment at Jamali Park proves successful, the model could be extended to other parks and public spaces across Karachi.

However, its effectiveness would depend on factors including the local soil structure, the ground's capacity to absorb water, the quality of underground water, rainfall volumes, and regular maintenance.

The sponge park system is not intended to replace conventional drainage infrastructure. It is meant to complement it by slowing rainwater runoff and helping reduce the risk of urban flooding during heavy rainfall.