Urban Green Space in Abbottabad, Pakistan

The city of Abbottabad, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, is expanding at the rate of 3.5% a year. This rapid urbanisation is posing challenges to the city’s water supply, wastewater treatment facilities, and transport infrastructure. These impacts are further exacerbated by climate change: temperature increases, frequent droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and intensified monsoon rains, which has resulted in severe flooding, landslides, and economic losses. The decline of green spaces in and around the city is aggravating the urban heat island effect and the worsening air quality, detrimentally impacting human health.

To tackle these issues, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) (lead) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), created the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project. This initiative is focused on enhancing urban services in the region, to improve public health and strengthen climate resilience. The project emphasizes the need for green infrastructure, water and sanitation services, and solid waste management to address the city’s challenges.

One area of focus is the revitalization and expansion of Shimla Hill Park, now renamed Sherwan Hill Adventure Park in Abbottabad. The project aims to expand and rehabilitate the park, to mitigate risks from flash floods, landslides, and extreme heat while enhancing access to green spaces to improve the physical and mental health of citizens, as well as reduce air pollution and urban heat.

Using our SAVi methodology, we will assess two scenarios:

• NBI Scenario, which involves expanding the park’s green areas, reforestation, and constructing walking trails and ramps to enhance access and usability, plus street lighting for improved safety.
• Business as usual, which considers the current extent and condition of the park.