CDA Launches Wetlands Initiative to Enhance Water Security and Climate Resilience in Islamabad

Date: Oct 02, 2025

Islamabad: October 2, 2025: The Capital Development Authority (CDA), in partnership with the Farmers Development Organization (FDO) and with support from the Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan – Catalytic Fund (WRAP-CF) of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), inaugurated a pioneering wetlands initiative aimed at improving water security, urban resilience, and climate adaptation in Islamabad. As part of the ceremony, the CDA and FDO signed a Letter of Collaboration to formalize their partnership in promoting wetlands as a climate-smart solution for urban water governance. Under this initiative, two wetlands will be established: an earthen model designed by the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) in Rawal Town to treat wastewater before its safe disposal into the Korang River, and a constructed hybrid wetland developed by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) in F-7 to demonstrate urban wastewater management solutions. The signing ceremony was graced by Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Member Planning Dr. Khalid Hafiz, Member Environment Esfandyar Baloch, DG Islamabad Water Sardar Khan Zimri, Director Development British High Commission Islamabad Sam Waldock, Country Director OPM Rauf Gandapur, and Climate Specialist BHC Islamabad Fatima Khalid. Representatives from Oxford Policy Management (OPM), the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and FDO also participated in the event, noting the project’s alignment with the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and its potential for replication in other urban centers across Pakistan. Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa emphasized the Authority’s commitment to integrating sustainable practices in urban management and highlighted wetlands as a practical innovation for tackling Islamabad’s environmental challenges. He shared several initiatives undertaken by CDA, including the planned construction of 100 Rainwater Recharge Wells across Islamabad to raise the groundwater level, and 10 underground water tanks to prevent rainwater wastage. He also announced that CDA will develop 11 wetlands in total to scientifically treat polluted water from natural streams, which will help purify water and control urban flooding. Director Development, British High Commission Islamabad Sam Waldock, commended the initiative, stressing that nature-based solutions such as wetlands are central to addressing Pakistan’s climate and water security challenges. He reaffirmed FCDO’s support for collaborative action in this space. The project, titled “Scaling Up Wetlands Models with Groundwater Recharge and Rainwater Harvesting for Water Security and Urban Resilience in Islamabad,” is funded under the FCDO-supported WRAP Programme. It seeks to address one of the capital’s most pressing environmental challenges — untreated wastewater contaminating natural streams and water bodies. These wetlands represent scalable, nature-based solutions that can improve water quality, recharge groundwater, and mitigate urban flooding. With a funding allocation of PKR 88.35 million, the project will run from August 2025 to March 2026 and will directly benefit communities in Rawal Town and F-7, while indirectly strengthening Islamabad’s Rawal Dam catchment and serving as a model for other Pakistani cities.