‘Recharge Pakistan’ project: Works commence at Badri Pond in DIK’s Burzawali Village

ISLAMABAD: The restoration works have commenced at Badri Pond in Burzawali Village, Dera Ismail Khan, marking a major milestone under the Recharge Pakistan project.

The intervention aims to restore one of the area’s important seasonal freshwater systems while improving water security and strengthening climate resilience for surrounding communities.

Highlighting the importance of investing in Nature-based Solutions to address Pakistan’s growing climate challenges, Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan said that Pakistan’s floods and droughts are symptoms of a changing climate that is placing increasing pressure on our people, ecosystems and water resources. Investments in ecosystems such as Badri Pond are investments in long-term climate resilience.

The commencement of physical works at Badri Pond marks a major milestone for Recharge Pakistan, advancing one of the project’s key on-ground Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) interventions to enhance water storage capacity, improve groundwater recharge and strengthen climate resilience. The intervention follows extensive technical assessments, and close collaboration with government partners and local communities to ensure the restoration responds to both ecological needs and local priorities.

Recharge Pakistan is a USD 72.9 million, seven-year climate adaptation initiative implemented by WWF-Pakistan in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, the Federal Flood Commission under the Ministry of Water Resources, and supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), The Coca Cola Foundation (TCCF) and WWF. Working across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan, the project seeks to reduce flood and drought risks, improve groundwater recharge, restore degraded ecosystems and strengthen climate resilience in Pakistan through Nature-based Solutions (NbS).

Carlos Pagoaga, President, The Coca Cola Foundation, said that building watershed resilience requires strong collaboration and long-term investment. The Coca Cola Foundation is proud to support Recharge Pakistan as it moves from planning to implementation, delivering practical Nature-based Solutions that aim to improve water security and strengthen communities for generations to come.

Hemant Mandal, Director of the Asia and the Pacific Region, at the Green Climate Fund (GCF) said that the restoration work at Badri Pond is an important milestone in translating climate finance into tangible adaptation outcomes under the GCF-supported Recharge Pakistan project. By restoring natural ecosystems alongside conventional infrastructure, the project demonstrates how nature-based solutions can deliver lasting benefits for both people and the environment.

The Badri Pond interventions are expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and represent the first of several Nature-based Solutions interventions planned under Recharge Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026