Paani+: Karachi startup's FloodGuard bag swells from 300g to 20kg in minutes as an alternative to sandbags
Founder Haseeb Ansari is selling water-absorbing flood barriers and a soil product for farmers, with orders from Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Murree, but no government contracts yet.
A Karachi startup called Paani+ is betting that Pakistan's two water problems, too much in the monsoon and too little in the fields, can be sold the same kind of fix: materials that soak up water and hold it. Founder Haseeb Ansari described the business to Business Recorder, which reported on the company on Thursday.
What Paani+ sells
| Product | What it does |
|---|---|
| FloodGuard | A flood barrier: a bag of about 300g that swells to about 15 to 20kg within three to five minutes on contact with fresh water, with a sheet to divert water. Sold as an alternative to sandbags |
| GrowMate+ | Mixed into soil around the roots, it absorbs irrigation water and releases it as the soil dries |
| HydroSoil | A hydration pack for plants |
| MediSorb and MediSorb Plus | Powders that turn hospital spills (blood, urine, infectious waste) into a solid for disposal; the Plus version has chlorine built in |
The company says the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) tested FloodGuard's absorbency, and it is clear that the bags are temporary protection, not a replacement for drains or permanent flood walls.
Who is buying
Demand for FloodGuard has come from Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Murree. In Lahore, Park View City ordered 200 bags after earlier flooding. Ansari said about 90% of orders arrive without paid advertising. Disaster management and local government bodies liked the demonstrations, he said, but that did not turn into purchases. MediSorb has been tried with private hospitals and is going through their procurement.
Business Recorder did not report prices or any investment in the company.
Why the market exists
The numbers behind the pitch are large. The 2022 floods affected 33 million people and caused more than $30 billion in damage and losses. In August 2025, more than 135mm of rain overwhelmed Karachi's drains. At the other extreme, agriculture used 94% of Pakistan's freshwater withdrawals in 2022, and the World Bank estimates that 60% to 75% of water drawn in Sindh can be lost to evaporation or seepage. "There is a lot of water in one place. And there is no water in the other place," Ansari said.
What to weigh before you buy anything like this
- For a house or shop in a low street: a barrier only helps if it seals the doorway; water also comes up through floor drains and gutters, so block those too.
- Fresh water only: the bags are made to activate on fresh water, the company says.
- Compare with the alternative: sandbags are heavy to store and move but cheap; ask any seller for the price per bag and how many a doorway needs.
If you are planning flood-proofing as part of a home loan or renovation, our home loan calculator shows what a larger loan adds to the instalment. Businesses selling products like this can list for free in our business directory.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Paani+ FloodGuard?
- A flood barrier from Karachi startup Paani+: a bag of about 300g that swells to about 15 to 20kg within three to five minutes on contact with fresh water, sold as an alternative to sandbags.
Sources
- Pakistan water woes offer a test for startup Paani+: Business Recorder
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