ISLAMABAD: A national consultative workshop on Friday highlighted the urgent need for evidence-based technological solutions and real-time data to address Pakistan’s growing water crisis.

The event, organised by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) under the UK Aid-funded Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP) programme, was attended by government officials, development agency representatives, private sector leaders, academics, and community members.

A statement issued here said that the workshop focused on supporting the implementation of Pakistan’s National Water Policy (NWP) and discussed water scarcity challenges and the success of WRAP initiatives in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Director for Water, Food, and Ecosystems and Team Leader for WRAP Dr Mohsin Hafeez outlined the challenges faced by national institutions, such as the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), due to the lack of an early warning system for floods and disasters.

Dr Hafeez also emphasized the impact of inaccurate groundwater data on decision-making.

He highlighted the development of a water accounting framework in Okara and the launch of the Groundwater Management Information System (GMIS) to address Punjab’s water shortages.

Pilot projects in Rahim Yar Khan and Okara are already underway, with plans for expansion. Innovative installations like Eddy Covariance flux towers are expected to provide valuable data on water use and carbon emissions in agriculture.

Key stakeholders, including policymakers and water experts, participated in the discussions on water accounting and sustainable water management. Engr Ahmad Kamal, Chairman of the Federal Flood Commission, pointed out that Pakistan ranks as the eighth most vulnerable country to climate change, which exacerbated the need for improved water management strategies. He also highlighted the lack of a regulatory framework for groundwater, which has led to its over-extraction and rapid depletion.

Dr Yasir Mohamed from IHE Delft in the Netherlands underscored the role of remote sensing and satellite data in achieving accurate water accounting. He stressed that reliable data collection depends on robust networking infrastructure.

The workshop concluded with group sessions aimed at developing water accounting recommendations for national-level implementation. DG PMD Mahr Sahibzad Khan delivered closing remarks, reiterating the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing Pakistan’s water challenges.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024