- Jamali Park in Gulberg Block 2, Karachi, hosts Pakistan's first experimental water-resilient sponge park.
- WWF-Pakistan, Gulberg Town Municipal Corporation and the private sector built it over six months.
- Rainwater and mosque ablution water pass through a multi-layer filter before storage and reuse for irrigation.
- The system is meant to complement, not replace, conventional drainage.
Karachi has inaugurated Pakistan's first experimental water-resilient sponge park at Jamali Park in Gulberg Block 2. The system is designed to hold rainwater and put it to use rather than letting it run through drains into the sea.
The project was carried out jointly by WWF-Pakistan, the Gulberg Town Municipal Corporation and the private sector. Work took six months.
How the park handles water
The park collects rainwater as well as water from the ablution facilities of a nearby mosque. The water is filtered in several stages and then kept in underground storage or tanks. It is later used to irrigate the park's plants and trees.
The filters are locally developed and sit beneath the park's water channels. Each is built from layers of different materials, and each layer does a separate job, from catching soil and debris to absorbing chemical pollutants and some heavy metals.
Once filtered, the water is moved to underground storage or to drainage systems.
| Material | Role |
|---|---|
| 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 |
What officials and WWF-Pakistan say
Naim Ashraf Raja, director of biodiversity at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, said underground freshwater reserves had been heavily drawn down through boreholes and other means. He argued that they must be replenished through natural processes. In his view, sponge parks help ensure future generations do not face worse shortages, and they can benefit animals as well as people.
Gulberg Town Chairman Nusratullah called the inauguration a major milestone. He said climate change had become a serious global concern, with effects seen in European countries in recent years, and stressed the need for urgent steps to protect the environment and save water.
Sohail Ali Naqvi, director of WWF-Pakistan's Freshwater Programme, said the organisation revised its strategy about 15 years ago. It began water-related work with the private sector in Lahore in 2012. He described the Karachi park as a collective effort that used local materials, including soil and small stones, to build its filters.
Plants for residents and space for wildlife
The park also has a dedicated area to encourage household plantation. Residents can scan barcodes to obtain plants, including indigenous species such as tamarind, almond, peepal and gulmohar.
Anyone taking a plant must commit to looking after it and stay in touch with the park administration, so that its growth into a tree can be monitored. There are also areas set aside for biodiversity and butterflies.
The sponge approach and Karachi's problem
Sponge parks belong to a wider planning approach that manages rainwater through natural and engineered systems rather than drains alone. Rain is gathered on designated surfaces and seeps gradually into the ground, sometimes with underground tanks for storage. Selected plants help filter it naturally. Slowing the flow in this way can ease pressure on drainage networks and limit flood risk.
The concept gained prominence in China, where a national programme began in 2014 and cities such as Wuhan and Shanghai added water-absorbing parks, wetlands, green roofs and permeable pavements. Copenhagen drew up a cloudburst plan after severe flooding in 2011, Rotterdam developed water squares, and Singapore turned concrete drains into natural waterways under its Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme.
Urban planning experts say the idea could suit Karachi, a dense coastal city facing heavier rain, flooding and water shortages. Concrete, tiles and paved roads stop rain from soaking into the ground, so water collects on roads and strains the drains. A sponge park could help recharge groundwater, support trees and plants, reduce urban temperatures and make public parks more useful.
Limits and conditions
How well the model works will depend on local soil structure, the ground's capacity to absorb water, groundwater quality, rainfall volumes and regular maintenance.
The system is not meant to replace conventional drainage infrastructure. It is meant to complement it by slowing runoff and reducing flood risk during heavy rain.
If the Jamali Park experiment proves successful, the model could be extended to other parks and public spaces across Karachi.
Questions and answers
What is a sponge park?
It is a park designed to absorb rainwater and let it seep into the ground or be stored, sometimes with underground tanks and filtering plants. This slows runoff and reduces pressure on drains.
How is the collected water used at Jamali Park?
Rainwater and water from a nearby mosque's ablution facilities are filtered, stored underground or in tanks, and reused to irrigate the park's plants and trees.
Will the sponge park prevent flooding in Karachi?
It is not meant to replace conventional drainage. It is meant to complement it by slowing runoff. Its effectiveness depends on soil, absorption capacity, rainfall and maintenance.
