Wapda, NUST sign MoU to resolve water management issues

20 Jul, 2016

Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to conduct joint training and research activities for addressing water security and quality challenges through improved governance and efficient management of water resources.
WAPDA Chairman Zafar Mahmood and NUST Rector Engineer Muhammad Asghar signed the MoU on behalf of their organisations. The major areas to be covered under the MoU included planning and implementation of joint applied research projects and activities, raising public awareness about water management issues, capacity building, sharing of information/data, exchange and training of scientific and technical personnel and internship of NUST students at WAPDA projects etc.
While addressing the ceremony, WAPDA chairman said that WAPDA, besides engaging other stakeholders, has also been reaching out the academia in a bid to introduce efficient management of water resources and promote a culture of water conservation amongst the masses. He said that WAPDA had earlier signed three MoUs in this regard one each with Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro, University of Agriculture Faisalabad and Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. Dilating upon the water issues in the country, he said that decreasing per capita availability of water due to rapid population growth, insufficient water storage capacity, water costing, lowering of aquifer because of unregulated water pumping and wastage of water in municipal, industrial and agricultural sectors are the main problems confronting Pakistan. There is a dire need to formulate a comprehensive strategy in collaboration with all stakeholders to address these issues, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, NUST Rector said that promoting the prudent and productive use of water in all walks of life is need of the hour. He termed the signing of MoU between WAPDA and his university a good omen for water sector in the country, adding that their mutual cooperation will help promote improved governance and efficient management of water resources. He expressed the hope that both organisations will effectively work together in the areas identified in the MoU.

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