Australia holds training workshop to help Pakistan meet water challenges

Lahore, December 19, 2014 (PPI-OT): A five-day Integrated Water Resource Modeling Workshop with an objective to further strengthen the exceptional tradition of water management in Pakistan concluded here today.

The workshop was organized on behalf of the Australian Government by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CCSIRO) with Australian partners i.e. eWater and International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICEWRM).

The Pakistani participants represented a broad range of key water agencies including the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Indus River System Authority (IRSA), Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW), Pakistan Meteorology Department (PMD), Planning Commission, provincial Irrigation departments and universities.

The workshop imparted training to Pakistan’s top water sector engineers in new techniques in computer river modelling. These tools will support decision-making for improved management of river and channel systems in the Indus basin in Pakistan.
The workshop highlighted the need of transparent, robust, and defensible integrated water resource management terming it essential to ensure food, energy, economic and environmental security of Pakistan. It further held that effective and efficient management of precious surface and groundwater is precious in view of growing population.

The participants of the workshop were of the view that Pakistan and Australia can learn together how to better manage the water of their complex and unpredictable river systems. They maintained that new technologies that support river system water management will help increase the skills of both nations in this critical area.

The workshop is an important step that will further boost bilateral cooperation between the Governments of Pakistan and Australia, by sharing water management experiences and expertise.
IRSA Chairman Raqib Khan opened the workshop while WAPDA General Manager (Planning and Design) Khan Muhammad Abro was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony who gave away certificates to the participants of the workshop.

For more information, contact:
Muhammad Abid Rana
Director Public Relations
Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA)
G-32, WAPDA House, Lahore
Tel: +92-42-99202633
Fax: +92-42-99203144
Cell: +92-333-4458293
Email: mabidrana@gmail.com
Website: www.wapda.gov.pk