Community engagement stressed for environment challenges

Islamabad:The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Pakistan supported by USAID organised a consultation workshop on the critical theme of ‘Hill Torrents: Turning Risk into Opportunities.’

The event underscored the pivotal role of community engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and expert guidance in harnessing the potential for transformative change in these challenging environments, according to the IWMI.

It added that the workshop reaffirmed the IWMI Pakistan's commitment to sustainable water management practices that empower communities and enhance productivity in hill torrent-affected areas.

“This workshop was marked by engaging discussions, collaborative presentations, and expert insights, as community members and stakeholders gathered to address water-related issues and explore solutions in the challenging context of hill torrents,” said Dr. Sarfraz Munir, Researcher, IWMI Pakistan.

“Through this consultation, our aim is to foster collaboration and engagement with relevant government departments, policymakers, the private sector, academia, and most importantly the local communities. We are committed to listening to and learning from your firsthand experiences, as we collectively work towards addressing and mitigating the challenges posed by changing rainfall patterns and the increasing threat of floods,” said Muhammad Nawaz, Development Specialist, USAID/Pakistan.

The communities who participated in the discussion were from the Daraban Zam, Tank Zam and Gomal Zam areas of District Tank and Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Distinguished speakers included Engr. Tariq Ali from the Irrigation Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Munawar Khatak of HELVETAS Pakistan, and Engr. Zahoor Ahmad from Ages Consultants, Peshawar.