The recent flooding of the Lyari River surprised many and surpassed expectations.
However, historically, the Lyari has carried varying levels of flow to the Sindhian Sea. These flows mostly originate in the Khirthar Mountains and the adjoining southern plains, where water accumulates and is further distributed into several smaller and mega streams. Among these, the most prominent are the Lyari and Malir Rivers, which flow through densely populated areas of the megacity Karachi, the capital city of Sindh province.
For several years, I have been advocating and emphasizing that without taking into account the river’s historical flows and flooding, any interventions obstructing the seasonal power flows of the Lyari River could potentially turn it into a disaster.
The recent spilling of Lyari has proven this concern to be true. It has compelled regulators, planners, climate experts, activists, and common citizens alike to rethink the significance of Lyari – a river capable of carrying massive flows under certain climate conditions, far beyond expectations.
Since Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are effective only under specific and often unpredictable conditions, maintaining the natural functionality of the Lyari River will not only help regulate unexpected flows but will also enhance both the river’s and the city’s resilience.
Although the Lyari River is primarily a seasonal flow, with appropriate engineering interventions-such as the installation of gated structures at suitable intervals-it can be transformed into a controlled water body or reservoir. Such an initiative would not only improve the urban aesthetics of Karachi but also contribute to ecological restoration by creating a biodiversity hub for local and migratory bird species.
The river already accommodates the city’s underground drainage system, which is emptied and treated by Treatment Plant-3 (Maripur).
Integrating interventions with sustainable water management could yield multiple co-benefits.
Recreational opportunities-such as regulated freshwater boat rides in Karachi, along with floating gardens and restaurants-could be developed along the river corridor to enhance and unlock its economic and tourism potential.
In order to maintain the river’s freshwater ecosystem, water levels could be regulated through controlled releases during the monsoon season, while in dry periods the system could be sustained by maintaining a supply of treated effluent from TP-3 (Maripur).
In addition, water quality could be controlled and monitored, and suitable fish species could be introduced to further enhance the river’s contribution.
The proposed intervention, if undertaken with climate-smart urban planning and environmental safeguards, could potentially transform the Lyari River into a multifunctional urban asset-supporting flood management, biodiversity conservation, recreation, and tourism-thereby reshaping the river’s image from a neglected drain to a valuable natural and socio-economic resource.
The enhanced socio-ecological, economic, and aesthetic value could upgrade its status from a natural drain to a freshwater river and storage system, comparable to any beautiful river flowing through major cities across the world.
The writer is an expert with the IUCN’s Commission on Ecosystem Management, specializing in planning, development, and research – and historically a dweller of the Indus River waters