In Islamabad on Tuesday, US Ambassador Donald Blome introduced “Recharge Pakistan,” an ambitious climate initiative designed to enhance flood resilience and water security in Pakistan’s most vulnerable regions. During the launch at the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services, Ambassador Blome emphasized the US commitment to partnering with Pakistan to safeguard climate-vulnerable communities and foster a greener, more resilient future.
The initiative, supported by collaborations with Coca-Cola, the Green Climate Fund, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the Pakistani government, aims to rehabilitate floodwater channels, reroute excess water, and restore wetlands to prevent dangerous runoff. The USAID has pledged $5 million to this partnership, which, along with a $66 million grant from the Green Climate Fund, will focus on improving natural systems like watersheds, wetlands, and forestation across the Indus Basin.
Recharge Pakistan will deploy green infrastructure to boost groundwater recharge, mitigate flood hazards, promote climate-smart agriculture, and enhance policy frameworks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan. The project includes interventions in D.I. Khan, Manchhar Lake, and Chakar Lehri, aiming to increase groundwater storage, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve water availability.
Ambassador Blome highlighted that the initiative would benefit over 50,000 hectares, provide year-round access to clean water for families, businesses, and farms, and improve livelihoods for 687,000 people, indirectly impacting over seven million.
The initiative is part of the broader US-Pakistan “Green Alliance,” which focuses on renewable energy, smart agriculture, and water management. The US has contributed $5 billion to the Green Climate Fund, supporting new investments in renewable energy and technology in Pakistan.
Pakistan, ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change by the Global Climate Risk Index, has been severely affected by rising temperatures and extreme weather events, including the 2022 floods that displaced millions and caused significant economic damage.
