THE recent rains in Rawalpindi once again showed how vulnerable the city is. Rawalpindi has faced serious flooding many a time, most notably in 2001. Every year, our response to the crisis remains the same: clean the drains, bring in pumps, and wait for the water to go down. We need to do something more practical.

The Nullah Lai catchment covers about 235 sq-km. If 100mm of rain falls over this area, nearly 23.5 billion litres of water falls on the catchment. We cannot expect Nullah Lai to carry all this water at once. The city should first map the natural flow of rainwater from each neighbourhood. The existing drains and culverts should be cleaned, repaired or enlarged wherever necessary. Places where water repeatedly collects should be dealt with first.

We should also start holding some rainwater instead of trying to send it away immediately. Parks, open spaces and suitable government land can be used as temporary storage during heavy rain. Large buildings can collect rooftop rainwater, while permeable pavements and green roadside channels can allow some water to soak into the ground.

Nullah Lai also needs attention. Its narrow sections, bridges and culverts should be checked, and garbage, cons-

truction material and encroachments restricting the flow should be removed. Simple water-level and rainfall sensors can give the authorities early warning, while pumps should remain available for the worst low-lying points.

None of this requires waiting for a grand project. Much can be started with the infrastructure the city already has. The basic idea is quite simple: do not let all the rainwater run away at the same time. Hold some, slow some, and safely drain the rest.

Ramesh Raja
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2026