The final workshop on strengthening the Science Policy Practice Interface (SPPI) for achieving Water Security concluded at PCRWR Islamabad on 3rd December 2025, bringing together academia, researchers, students and civil society to discuss climate-driven water challenges and integrated solutions.
Dr. Hifza Rasheed, Director General PCRWR, welcomed participants and stressed the urgency of multi-stakeholder engagement to secure Pakistan’s water future. She highlighted how SPPI initiatives create common ground between researchers, policymakers and practitioners, and called for collaborative, science-driven approaches to inform sustainable water management.
Mr. Fuad Pashayav, Director UNESCO Pakistan, praised PCRWR’s efforts to link research with policy and practice, noting UNESCO’s continued support for capacity building in climate-vulnerable countries. He described the workshop as an important step toward deeper knowledge exchange, innovation and resilience building that will contribute directly to national Water Security goals.
In his keynote, Mr. Ahmad Kamal, former Chairman of the Federal Flood Commission and Chief Engineering Adviser to the Ministry of Water Resources, underscored the necessity of integrating scientific evidence into policy and on-ground actions. He emphasised that complex water resource challenges require coordinated planning and practical implementation that bridge institutional boundaries.
During the technical session, Engr. Muhammad Kashif Manzoor, Deputy Director PCRWR, presented the SPPI framework and outlined measures to strengthen communication, capacity and collaboration among scientists, policymakers and field practitioners. His presentation encouraged participants to align research with practical, solution-oriented actions that will enhance Pakistan’s Water Security.
Engr. Asghar Ali Halepoto, Chief Water at the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and chief guest for the technical session, reviewed recent government initiatives to improve water governance, data-driven decision-making and integrated resource management. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with institutions to tackle emerging water challenges.
Engr. Muhammad Kashif Manzoor closed the workshop by thanking attendees for their engagement and reaffirming PCRWR’s commitment to strengthening the science-policy-practice nexus. Participants left with renewed intent to translate workshop discussions into collaborative projects and policies that advance evidence-based Water Security across Pakistan.
