KARACHI: The Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development (IED), in collaboration with NED University of Engineering & Technology, has completed phase one of a year-long project carried out in the water-stressed regions of Murree and Kotli Sattiyan.
The project aimed at improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) awareness and promoting rainwater harvesting as a climate-resilient solution in these areas.
A ceremony in this respect was held at the AKU’s Karimabad campus on Wednesday, marking the closing of the initiative titled “Community Mobilisation and WASH Education under Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting in Murree District”.
“This project has offered a unique opportunity to work directly with the government. In phase one, we collaborated extensively with schools and partners such as Suthra Punjab,” said Dr Fozia Parveen, representing AKU and one of the project leaders.
In the next phase, she pointed out, a water quality lab would be established in Kotli Sattiyan with a focus on citizen science.
“Our goal is to translate these insights into actionable recommendations for policymakers,” she added.
Highlighting the need for the project, speakers said that despite receiving high rainfall, Murree and Kotli Sattiyan faced chronic water shortages due to steep terrain, runoff, tourism pressure, and limited infrastructure.
Under the project, they said, the Urban Unit of the government of Punjab initiated a rooftop rainwater harvesting programme, integrating safe storage and filtration systems across more than 1,100 households (phase-I), supported through community education led by IED and NED University.
Through school-based learning, hands-on activities and community engagement, the project strengthened hygiene practices, water conservation awareness and environmental stewardship. The initiative directly engaged 4,726 students and 220 community members, highlighting the effectiveness of an education-led approach.
Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2026
