Sponge city development is the utmost solution for Karachi, says Waqar Zaka

Well-known social media personality and reality show host Waqar Zaka has proposed an ultimate solution for the shaky, unsteady, unsound and unsafe drainage system of Karachi.

Life virtually stops in the city of lights when day long heavy monsoon rains cause catastrophic scenes in parts of the city.

The lives and properties of residents in several low-lying areas usually become victim of severe danger due to the threat of flooding as the rickety drainage system of the provincial capital has almost collapsed.

Flooding in the Sindh during the monsoon season has become almost commonplace. And the problem is spreading. Furthermore the largest city of Sindh, Karachi that is also the economic hub of Pakistan displays a picture of Venice due to flooded streets and overflown Nullahs that also resulted in the killing of at least 20 people in 3 days.

However, Waqar Zaka, who has shown the power of an influencer and the one who has utilized each and every bit of it, not for views but to help the people in need has yet again proved to be one of the finest influencers by providing a conclusive solution to Karachi’s drainage system

In his latest videos that has already went viral on social media, Waqar Zaka proposed that to avoid flooded streets and overflowing Nullahs, Sponge City development is the utmost and only solution.

Zaka also asked his followers to join the political movement (Technology Movement Pakistan) he will be launching to fight for the rights of Karachi.

He further announced to contest in local body elections for the sake of betterment of Karachi.

He lashed on the authorities and said developers flouted building regulations and ignored the need for proper drainage systems, for the sake of profits.

In a bid to solve the problem, Waqar Zaka said cities should be built like sponges to soak up 70 per cent of rainwater.

In this development, the concrete surfaces were to be replaced by permeable materials and green spaces such as rain gardens to absorb and filter rainfall.

In the retrospect the Sponge City initiative was inspired by green development concepts, such as low-impact development in the United States, and other similar initiatives in Britain, Australia and Singapore.

It won’t be wrong to say that Karachi has a chance to lead the world in urban sustainability through the sponge city initiative, however it faces the dual challenge of financial constraints and a “lack of expertise of local administration to effectively coordinate and integrate such a complex set of activities.