Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources in partnership with UNESCO Islamabad, The Asia Foundation, and United States Agency for International Development/ International Water Management Institute (IWMI) launched two reports; the UN World Water Development Report 2020 and PCRWR’s Groundwater Investigations and Mapping in the Lower Indus Plain. This event was followed by stakeholer consultation for the development of “Groundwater Management Plan” for Pakistan. This consultation will help the government of Pakistan in the management of groundwater resources of the country in the long-term.

The World Water Development Report 2020 warns that climate change will affect the availability, quality and quantity of water needed for basic human needs, thus undermining enjoyment of the basic rights to safe drinking water and sanitation for billions of people. Such a deterioration of the situation will hinder achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6, according to which access to safe drinking water and sanitation must be guaranteed for all within ten years. This will be a considerable challenge ¬– 2.2 billion people currently do not have access to safely managed drinking water, and 4.2 billion, or 55% of the world’s population, are without safely managed sanitation.

The report on Groundwater Investigations and Mapping in the Lower Indus Plain is focused on provision of hot and bright spots for future groundwater management.

Ch. Fawad Hussain, Federal Minister for Science and Technology in his remarks said that the present government has substantially increased the water resources development budget of the country.

Ms. Patricia McPhillips, UNESCO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman, PCRWR, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz, USAID and Mr. Farid Alam, Director Programs, The Asia Foundation spoke on different aspects of groundwater and climate change. During post launch consultation participants from national and provincial governments and private sector deliberated on groundwater management plan.

The UN World Water Report 2020 can be downloaded from:-https://www.unwater.org/…/world-water-development…/

PCRWR Groundwater Investigation and Mapping report can be downloaded from: