Pakistan Launches First Floating Wetlands to Clean Wastewater

APP

Lahore: In a major step toward improving water quality and environmental sustainability in Punjab, the Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC) has completed Pakistan’s first pilot project using Floating Wetlands Technology to treat flowing wastewater in Lahore’s Hudiara Drain.

The project was carried out under the supervision of Punjab Secretary Local Government Mian Shakil Ahmad, with technical support from NIBGE, UNICEF, and the University of Lahore.

Floating wetlands were installed over 16,000 square feet along a 500-metre stretch of the Hudiara Drain near the University of Lahore. As many as 660 jumbo lawn sheets, containing more than 6,500 aquatic plants, were deployed. These plants naturally absorb pollutants, foul odours, and harmful substances from the wastewater.

According to project results, the water quality of the drain has shown significant improvement, reducing persistent odour issues for surrounding communities as well as the university’s students and faculty.

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PMDFC Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz said this is the first time that Floating Wetlands Technology has been successfully installed in a running wastewater drain in Pakistan. He said the low-cost, environmentally friendly solution has demonstrated “remarkable improvements” in wastewater quality.

He noted that while PMDFC has previously implemented floating wetlands in wastewater ponds, the technology has now proven effective for treating flowing wastewater as well.

Aziz credited the project’s success to the strong support from the Punjab Local Government Department, NIBGE, UNICEF, the University of Lahore, and other stakeholders.