KARACHI: A project was launched here on Monday at a local hotel to help explore strategies to support people affected by salinity in the Indus basin areas of south Punjab and Sindh.

The project — Adapting to Salinity in the Southern Indus Basin (ASSIB) — is funded by the Australian government through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

Highlighting the key features of the 2.5-year project, project leader Dr Michael Mitchell said it was a launching pad for a 10-year programme to explore how Pakistan could live better with the salt that had entrenched in its landscape

“The project is planned to evolve through different stages — formative, participatory and action research. This workshop would help us greatly extend our already established linkages with stakeholders and network of experts,” said Dr Mitchell, a research fellow at the Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Australia.

Jahanzeb Awan, Australia’s honorary consul in Karachi and the chief guest, said the ACIAR sought to address three major challenges in Pakistan, mainly sustainable water supply, energy and food security.

“The project in particular builds upon the common values between the two countries (Australia and Pakistan) and focuses on the common challenges that both countries face. I appreciate the efforts of Dr Michael and Dr Bakhshal for leading this project and hope this project will bring about the change that will meaningfully impact future generations.”

Dr Bakhshal Lashari, national project coordinator of the ASSIB, at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), expressed the hope that the project would prove to be a landmark in improving the livelihoods of the salt-affected farming community of Pakistan.

MUET Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Aslam Uqaili spoke about the role of the university in taking initiatives in terms of internationally-funded projects and the capacity of the US-Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Water in leading high-quality indigenous research.

“The project is important given the fact that salinity as well as population is increasing, creating pressure on limited natural resources. There is need to focus on gender inclusivity in all initiatives being planned under the project.”

Dr Munawar Raza Kazmi, ACIAR’s country manager, presented an overview of ACIAR’s work in poor communities particularly for women in Punjab and Sindh through improvement in strategic value chain.

“The target areas include livestock and agriculture, water, horticulture and land management. We have been researching best practices in irrigation with Sindh government’s assistance and have completed groundwater mapping with MUET’s help,” he said.

The country representative of the International Union of Conservation of Nature, Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, said millions of hectares of agricultural land had been rendered infertile and communities had been forced to move to other places in search of livelihood opportunities due to lack of fresh water and sea intrusion in the Indus River.

“This project is the need of the time. The IUCN has helped address such environmental issues with the help of partner institutions in the past,” he said.

Dr Robyn Johnston, the ACIAR research programme manager for water, and Mahmood Nawaz Shah, a representative of the Sindh Abadgar Board, also spoke.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2021