Delegates gathered in Islamabad from Nov 3 to 6 for Pakistan Water Week 2025, organised by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) to tackle the country’s pressing water management challenges. Experts, policymakers, university leaders and community representatives exchanged ideas on practical steps to use existing rivers and groundwater more wisely before scarcity becomes a crisis.
Under the theme ‘From Scarcity to Sustainability’, participants examined how nature-based approaches and digital tools can reduce flood and drought risks while protecting ecosystems. Conversations highlighted how AI-enabled decision support and solar-powered irrigation can raise farm productivity, lower costs and conserve groundwater for future generations.
The week emphasised the critical role of women and youth in shaping water governance and policy, and for the first time seven university vice chancellors joined the discussions, reinforcing that research and higher education must be central to long-term resilience and policy design across Pakistan.
Muhammad Ashraf, IWMI’s Country Representative for Pakistan, said ‘Pakistan Water Week is not just about water, it’s about people, partnerships, and possibilities.’ Delegates stressed that translating ideas into action will require coordinated leadership across government, academia, the private sector and local communities.
Islamabad’s gathering of specialists and stakeholders advanced practical solutions and new collaborations, and participants urged continued momentum so that Pakistan Water Week leads to measurable improvements in water management, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture nationwide.
