Pakistan can benefit from China’s experience in rainwater harvesting as the country prepares for the monsoon season. Chinese cities and rural areas have successfully implemented systems to collect, store, and reuse rainwater, providing practical models for urban resilience, drinking water supply, and ecological restoration.
China has promoted the “sponge city” approach, using permeable pavements, green roofs, wetlands, and storage facilities to manage stormwater. In rural regions like Gansu, rainwater harvesting supports irrigation, drinking water, and ecosystem restoration through tanks, terraces, and micro-catchments. Mountainous areas such as Lhasa and Guangxi also show terrain-specific methods for water collection and storage.
Pakistani experts, including Muhammad Ashraf from the International Water Management Institute, say similar measures can reduce flooding, recharge aquifers, and improve monsoon water management. Community initiatives, such as Teacher Usman’s rainwater ponds and recharge wells, demonstrate local-level success.
At the policy level, Pakistan has introduced the Green Building Code and Rainwater Harvesting Code, while Punjab plans 358 underground water tanks and recharge wells. Experts recommend combining large-scale planning with grassroots initiatives to optimize water resources and enhance climate resilience.
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