Pakistan: Lai Nullah Basin Flood Problem Islamabad – Rawalpindi Cities

Information is provided about the general approach and experience regarding flood management and mitigation in Pakistan, and in the Lai Nullah Basin in particular. An extraordinary flood event in the year 2001 marked the start of a shift towards the concept of integrated flood management with a view to effectively manage and mitigate flood and related problems, both on a national basis and on a river basin level. The paper discusses the countrywide approach, the various structural and non-structural measures in place and also those in the case study area. The relative importance and applicability of these measures are outlined and, for the case study area, an analysis of those being adopted or proposed for the future is made. Legal aspects of flood management regarding land use, flood warning, preparedness and response are briefly described. Mention is also made of emerging concepts of stakeholder participation. The study concludes with a detailed listing of “lessons learnt”, which could be used for possible application in countries that intend to adopt an IFM approach