IWMI Pakistan organises consultative workshop on water issues

LAHORE: The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Pakistan organised a consultative workshop with the Okara Chamber of Commerce and Industry on water issues to identify the challenges the industrial water users are confronted with in the district.

Dr Mohsin Hafeez, country representative of Pakistan and Regional Representative of Central Asia, IWMI, welcomed the stakeholders and participants and highlighted the impacts of climate change on Pakistan and its industrial sector.

He also shared how IWMI Pakistan through the FCDO-funded Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP) programme Component 1: Climate Resilient Solutions for Improving Water Governance (CRS-IWaG), will improve the water governance in district Okara, through enhanced water availability for various sectors, especially the industries.

Dr Hafeez said: “Okara is the pilot district for WRAP programme Component 1: CRS-IWaG, where different interventions related to water governance shall be introduced to benefit different water users, including the industrial sector. IWMI Pakistan has established its field office in Okara district to directly work with the industrial sector and address their water-related challenges. Better water governance will improve the industrial output and contribute to the GDP,” he added.

Colonel Muhammad Mazhar (Retd), member of the Okara Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented the address of welcome.

According to him, “Pakistan is witnessing greater water insecurity. The industrial sector in Okara district relies on groundwater for industrial purposes, especially for cooling. The water after being used is not recycled and is drained in Nullahs and streams, which pollutes water bodies.”

“We are willing to work with IWMI Pakistan for better management of water resources,” he added.

Dr Abdur Rehman Cheema, regional researcher at Water Governance and Institutional Specialist, IWMI Pakistan, moderated a dialogue with the members of the Okara Chamber on water availability challenges and coping with the strategies by the industrial sector.

According to him, “The impacts of climate change are being felt across the country, which is threatening our water security and affecting economy, livelihoods and environment. Water conservation and sustainability cannot be achieved in a silo approach. Today’s consultation with the Okara Chamber has helped highlight the current and future water challenges being faced by the industrial sector in Okara district and potential strategies to cope with them.”

The industrialists also shared their insights on water-related challenges and the support required from the IWMI Pakistan in addressing them.

Chaudhry Habib-ul-Haq, executive committee member of the Okara Chamber, delivered a vote of thanks and appreciated the IWMI Pakistan’s role in organising the workshop and giving voice to their concerns.

He suggested promoting low delta crops that require less water to cope with the water shortages and reduce pressure on groundwater.

Haq expressed the hope that the WRAP programme Component 1: CRS-IWaG will contribute towards enhancing the availability of water and promote sustainability of the industrial sector in Okara district.

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