SUPARCO’S satellite imagery reveals the rapid expansion of Lahore into the floodplains of the Ravi river, with the natural flood corridors giving way to housing schemes and other urban infrastructure. What appears to be valuable real estate is, in fact, land that performs the vital function of absorption and dispersal of floodwaters during periods of sudden and high river flows. As this buffer disappears, the city’s exposure to flooding increases. Floodplains are an integral part of the river system. Encroachments in the form of housing schemes and other constructions constrict a river’s ability to absorb and convey excess water, especially during extreme........

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