The Government College University Lahore Department of Political Science on Friday joined hands with United Nations to hold the biggest ever international conference on "Politics of Water Resources Governance in the Indus Basin" in Pakistan this year.
GCU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Khaleequr Rahman and UN Institute of Water, Health and Environment Director Dr Adeel Zafar signed an international co-operative agreement to bring into limelight the impending dangers of water scarcity and formulate strategic responses to these problems. The conference also intends to seek critical perspectives on politics of water in the Indus Basin.
GCU Department of Political Science Chairperson Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt said 'hydraulic societies' in the basin faced multiple challenges in the wake of dwindling water supplies, worsening climatic scenario and bourgeoning population. While briefing about the event, the Department of Political Science said the event would be only of its kind. The conference will not only help produce critical mass of research in the discipline but also encourage local academics to research and formulate indigenous responses to the challenges posed by water scarcity and politics.
The GCU has yet received 28 papers from international academics for the conference which include Dr David Gilmartin - a veteran historian with extensive research profile on politics of irrigation, Dr Daniel Haines from University of London, Dr Joseph Hill and Dr Mehmood-ul-Hassan from University of Bonn, Dr Anthony Turton from Free State University South Africa and Dr Rohan D'Souza from Jawahir Lal Nehru University. Dr Danish Mustafa, a leading academic from Kings College London, will be the keynote speaker at the conference.