Two-day moot at GIK: Experts call for joint efforts to tackle climate change threats

SWABI: Experts at a two-day conference on Saturday called for joint efforts to mitigate the growing threats posed by climate change.

The conference on climate change and environmental challenges was organised by the Department of Civil Engineering at Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIK).

This event was financed by the Higher Education Commission, World Wide Fund for Nature, GIK Institute and Lakeshore City.

Eminent researchers, students and industry professionals attended the event to discuss innovative solutions for environmental sustainability.

The speakers informed about the critical role of modern engineering in addressing climate challenges and called for a stronger collaboration between academia, industry and government.

Prof Dr Atiqur Rehman Tariq underscored the escalating issue of water scarcity, stressing that efficient water management would soon become one of the most crucial areas of civil engineering.

“Water is a fundamental necessity of life, and without effective conservation strategies, future shortages could pose a severe crisis,” he warned.

Dr Muhammad Tufail, country manager at CDM Smith, a US-based consulting firm, emphasised the importance of constructing strong and environmentally friendly infrastructure to minimize ecological damage while optimizing resource use.

GIK Institute Rector Prof Dr SM Hassan Zaidi called for the integration of modern technology to combat climate change. “This crisis demands innovative ideas and swift, result-oriented actions,” he remarked.

Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf Tanoli stressed the need to update civil

engineering curricula to equip future engineers with the necessary skills to address climate-related challenges.

“Universities must incorporate emerging trends in engineering to prepare students for sustainable infrastructure development,” he added.