Rethinking Urban Water | Nature-Based Solutions for Islamabad

Islamabad may be a planned city, but beneath its surface, a growing water crisis is unfolding. Declining groundwater levels, increasing urbanisation, and the loss of natural drainage systems are placing mounting pressure on the city’s water resources. At the same time, rainwater continues to flow away as runoff instead of replenishing underground aquifers. This documentary explores how Nature-Based Solutions are helping reshape urban water management in Pakistan’s capital. Through recharge wells, rooftop rainwater harvesting systems, and constructed wetlands, innovative interventions are being implemented to restore the natural water cycle, reduce urban flooding, improve groundwater recharge, and treat wastewater sustainably. Led by Farmers Development Organization (FDO), the initiative brings together government institutions, researchers, universities, and development partners to demonstrate how science, policy, and collaboration can deliver practical climate solutions for rapidly growing cities. More than infrastructure, this is an investment in long-term urban resilience, where nature itself becomes part of the solution. Supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office under the CF-WRAP programme, with technical expertise provided by ‪@OPMglobal‬ #CFWRAP #NatureBasedSolutions #UrbanWater #Islamabad #WaterResilience #ClimateAdaptation #GroundwaterRecharge #UrbanSustainability #WaterSecurity #ConstructedWetlands #ClimateInnovation #FCDOPakistan #OPM