Islamabad, Aug 28, 2026: Restoration work has begun at Badri Pond in Burzawali Village, Dera Ismail Khan, in a key step under the Recharge Pakistan project aimed at improving water security and building climate resilience for nearby communities.
The intervention seeks to revive one of the area’s important seasonal freshwater systems by enhancing water storage, supporting groundwater recharge and restoring ecological functions. The start of physical work marks a major on-ground milestone for Recharge Pakistan, which is using Ecosystem-based Adaptation measures to address flood and drought risks in climate-vulnerable landscapes.
WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan said Pakistan’s floods and droughts reflected the growing pressure of climate change on people, ecosystems and water resources.
“Pakistan’s floods and droughts are symptoms of a changing climate that is placing increasing pressure on our people, ecosystems and water resources. Part of the answer lies in restoring nature’s own capacity to capture, store and regulate water. Investments in ecosystems such as Badri Pond are investments in long-term climate resilience,” he said.
According to the project details, the Badri Pond restoration follows detailed technical assessments and close coordination with government partners and local communities. The process has been designed to ensure that the work addresses ecological requirements as well as 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 and the Federal Flood Commission under the Ministry of Water Resources. The initiative is supported by the Green Climate Fund, The Coca Cola Foundation and WWF.
The project is being implemented across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan, with the objective of reducing flood and drought risks, improving groundwater recharge, restoring degraded ecosystems and strengthening climate resilience through Nature-based Solutions.
Carlos Pagoaga, President of The Coca Cola Foundation, said long-term investment and cooperation were essential for building watershed resilience.
“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,” he said.
For generations, Badri Pond has served as a seasonal freshwater source for nearby communities, livestock, local biodiversity and ecosystems. However, its capacity to retain and store water has declined over time due to sediment accumulation, blocked natural flow paths and eroded embankments. This has reduced its ecological role and increased water stress for local communities.
The restoration is expected to demonstrate how Nature-based Solutions can help restore ecosystem functions while also strengthening resilience against climate impacts.
Muhammad Fawad Hayat, Senior Director, Recharge Pakistan at WWF-Pakistan, said Badri Pond was among the key Nature-based Solutions interventions moving into implementation under the project.
“Badri Pond is a key NbS intervention to move into implementation under the project. Over the coming months, we will restore 415 metres of natural flow paths, desilt one hectare of the pond and reinforce 211 metres of embankments, increasing its water-holding capacity by approximately 20,000 cubic metres. These interventions will strengthen water security for an estimated 2,957 households,” he said.
Hemant Mandal, Director of the Asia and the Pacific Region at the Green Climate Fund, said the work showed how climate finance could be translated into practical adaptation outcomes.
“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,” he said.
The Badri Pond interventions are expected to be completed by the end of 2026. They are the first of several Nature-based Solutions interventions planned under Recharge Pakistan.
Together, these measures are expected to show how working with nature can complement conventional infrastructure, reduce disaster risks, improve water security and help build long-term resilience in some of Pakistan’s most climate-vulnerable areas.
