The UNESCO Water Chair at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) Wah organized an International Dialogue on “Role of Hydro-informatics and Integrated Water Resource Management under UN - Agenda 2030” on May 24, 2016. The experts emphasized on the importance of water and sustainable development as envisaged in United Nations Agenda 2030 and UNESCO Actions in the Asia Pacific Region. The importance of multi-sectoral integration and nexus of poverty-water-energy-food security and climate change were identified as essentials to ensure sustainable integrated water resource management, sanitation goal and target areas with potential tools and methods for monitoring progress and indicators as well as the means of implementation.


Speaking at the inaugural session, the director CIIT-Wah, Prof. Dr. Tayyeb Akram welcomed all the guests. He highlighted that it is the basic right of all human beings to have access to clean water and sanitation. Access to safe water and basic sanitation is a legal entitlement rather than a commodity or service provided on a charitable basis.

Representative UNESCO Pakistan, Ms. Vibeke Jensen commended the efforts of CIIT Wah and UNESCO Water Chair. She mentioned “an important way to achieve objectives of UN-Agenda 2030 is through the establishment and ongoing support of UNESCO Water Chairs at higher education institutions and UNESCO Water Centres throughout the world.”

Dr. John Wolfenden, Water expert from Australia gave a detailed note on water security issues of the Asia Pacific region. He emphasized on south-south cooperation between UNESCO Chairs and Centers.

Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Director UNESCO Regional Bureau of Science for Asia Pacific moderated the technical session. Among other issues, research focus on specific subject and geographic priorities in areas of water science and policy were discussed. The role of UNESCO chairs and centers was also brought under discussion.

The international dialogue was attended by representatives from UNESCO Water Research Center CIIT-Abbottabad, national experts of ground water and International experts from Australia, Phillipines, Malaysia, Korea and Indonesia. The students actively participated in the dialogue and appreciated that there should be more such forums where they can learn about the latest developments from the experts.

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