The two-day 8th International Water Conference on ‘Valuing Water for Sustainability’ organized by Riphah International University, PCRWR and UNICEF was held to bring together experts, researchers, policy makers and stakeholders to discuss and address critical management issues water resources, sustainability, conservation, WASH, GLOF and climate change. Hundreds of participants gathered physically and online from 6-7 March 2023 to rapidly scale up action to address the water crisis and ensure equitable access across sectors – agriculture, energy, environment and water, and taking into account climate change adaptability and water governance.
Including leading academics, researchers and representatives of development sectors, UNICEF Representative Ms. Kiran Qazi, Vice Chancellor of Riphah University Dr. Anis Ahmad, former chairman pcrwr Dr. M Ashraf, Head of Comsats Metrology Department Dr. M Athar, Chairman PCRWR Dr. Hifza Rasheed, Director of Riphah Institute of Public Policy Dr. Rashid Aftab, Dr. Akram Shaikh, DG Pastic, Dr. Muhammad Rizwan of the US Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W), Dr. Ishtiaque from University of Baltistan. Describing water scarcity as a major challenge for climate-hit Pakistan, the speakers said urgent steps such as nature-based solutions and development of civic sense for water conservation were urgent. Other water-related disasters, including water scarcity as a major symptom of the climate emergency, have highlighted the topic as a major concern of governments, universities, research and development organizations, the development sector and citizens. They argued that it integrates the approach; aquatic ecosystems, reducing pressures on the hydrological system, developing water-based food systems, using technologies and managing water conservation cycles, ensuring water sanitation and hygiene, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening communities – from resilient infrastructure, reducing water losses, early warning systems for natural disasters and climate justice.
This year a number of organizations from universities, R&D and development sector like; PCRWR, UNICEF, Riphah University, COMSATS University, Baltistan University, US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Water Studies (USPCAS-W)-Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, UN-Habitat, Chinese Academy of Sciences, IRP participated through 50 professional articles paper and panel discussion.
