Bahawalpur, September 22, 2023 (PPI-OT): A meeting on “Provisions of Clean Drinking Water in South Punjab” was organized by SDGs Collaboration Centre the Islamia University of Bahawalpur in association with Punjab Aab e Pak Authority. Prof. Dr. Naveed Akhter, Vice Chancellor the Islamia University of Bahawalpur chaired the meeting, Prof. Dr. Rubina Bhatti, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences and Patron of the SDGsCC the Islamia University of Bahawalpur preceded it. Engineer Aamir Khaleed, Director of the Aab e Pak Authority gave a briefing about clean drinking water plants that are being provided by this organization in Southern Punjab as well as the region’s sweat water supplies.
Both organizations agreed to start collaborative work on the Cholistan Desert’s water resources with the help of the Institute of Cholistan Desert by research and expertise sharing. The utilization of advanced and reputable water testing facilities of the Institute of Soil Sciences and Water Resources the Islamia University of Bahawalpur to test the water at commercial prices will be made available in future.
Moreover, paid internship opportunities will be provided to students who are conducting research on environmental and water projects. Prof. Dr. Maqshoof Ahmad, Director of the Institute of Soil and Water Resources, gave a briefing on the latest advances in technology used in laboratories for water testing. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Director Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies gave an overview of the initiatives in the desert region and the state of the sweat water there.
Dr. Abid Rashid Gill, Director of the Green Campus Project, discussed efforts to reduce sweat water waste in the Islamia University of Bahawalpur and Environment Policy. Prof. Dr. Naveed Akhter, Vice Chancellor appreciated the provision of clean drinking water, and vowed that the Islamia University of Bahawalpur will collaborate with Punjab Aab e Pak Authority for water resource research which would help to increase sustainability of water in South Punjab.
Prof. Dr. Rubina Bhatti stressed upon the need of academia and industry linkages and coordination with different organizations for achieving sustainable development goals. Awareness sessions at schools, colleges and community can play vital role in conservation and reducing waste of sweet drinking water, she said. It was pledged to organize further collaborative activities on forum of SDGs Collaboration Centre, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur in the future.
Prof. Dr. Salman Bin Naeem Director of the SDGsCC, Prof. Dr. Samar Fahad, Director Enabling Centre, Dr. Azhar Hussain Associate Professor Water Management, Dr. Ali Azam, Associate Professor Economics, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nafees Chairman and Dr. Rashid Shaheen Associate Professor Department of Horticulture Sciences attended the meeting.
In order to demonstrate the practical work on water and the Cholistan Desert, Dr. Mariam Abbas Soharwardi, Additional Director SDGsCC, organized a visit for the team of the Punjab Aab e Pak Authority to the Institute of Soil Science and Water Resources and the Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies.
For more information, contact:
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB)
University Chowk, Gulshan Colony, Bahawalpur,
Punjab – 63100, Pakistan
Tel: +92-62-9250235
Fax: +92-62-9250335
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.iub.edu.pk/