The third meeting of the Water, Environment & Agriculture Societies’ Consortium at the University of Engineering and Technology Mardan brought together leading academic researchers from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to strengthen water security through collaboration and innovation.
Organised under the Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan WRAP Programme, the gathering focused on breaking down institutional silos and building practical bridges for sustainable water governance, with participants sharing ongoing research and exploring collaborative opportunities.
A highlight of the day was a tour of UET Mardan’s AI Lab where faculty and students demonstrated how machine learning and data analytics are being applied to environmental monitoring and water resource management, illustrating the growing role of technology in addressing local water challenges.
Attendees expressed strong interest in field-level learning, including visits to IWMI field sites such as the flux towers in Charsadda and Mardan and the hydraulic ram pump installations in Mansehra, underscoring the consortium’s emphasis on applied research and hands-on solutions for communities.
The meeting also underscored shared goals to promote collaborative networking, strengthen research and innovation, and enhance knowledge exchange across universities in the province, with practical next steps discussed for joint studies and student exchanges.
A warm welcome from Vice Chancellor Gul Muhammad Khan and constructive facilitation by Sarfraz Munir and Kifayat Zaman were noted as key to the productive deliberations. The initiative is supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as part of efforts to improve water governance and resilience in Pakistan.
