Pakistan Water Week 2026 to kick off on Nov 2 in Capital, preparations completed

Hina Durrani ISLAMABAD, Nov 01 (APP):Preparations have been completed for the 6th Pakistan Water Week 2026, which will kick off in Islamabad on November 2 to bring national and international stakeholders together to advance water security and climate-resilient food systems. The five-day international conference, themed 'Commitments to Action: Advancing Water Security and Achieving Climate-Resilient Food Systems in Pakistan,' will continue until November 6. The event is being organised by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), in collaboration with the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and the Ministry of Water Resources. The conference will bring together policymakers, parliamentarians, researchers, development partners, youth leaders, civil society representatives and media professionals, with participation available both in person and online. It will feature two parallel thematic tracks, each comprising 13 sessions, focusing on strengthening water, agriculture and food systems through effective policy implementation and scaling up inclusive innovations for climate resilience. Key topics to be discussed include groundwater management, irrigation reforms, drought and health, climate financing, Pakistan's preparations for COP31, the water-energy-food-environment nexus, artificial intelligence, digital twins, cryosphere risks in the Upper Indus Basin, and women's and youth leadership in water security. Three plenary sessions will focus on development partners' priorities in water and climate, water governance in the Indus Basin, and Australian water innovations for the basin. IWMI Director General Dr. Mark Smith will join the second-day plenary panel online alongside national and international experts. International participants will also visit a water body during a study tour scheduled for the final day of the conference. Talking to APP, Dr. Mohsin Hafeez, Strategic Program Director for Water, Food and Ecosystems at IWMI said that Pakistan already has many of the policies, laws and plans it needs. The real challenge is implementation. He said the conference aimed to bridge the gap between evidence and decision-making by linking policy commitments with practical action on the ground. IWMI Country Representative for Pakistan Dr. Muhammad Ashraf told APP that water security had become central to Pakistan's food security, economy and climate resilience. He said the conference would bring science, policy and practice together to identify priorities, determine responsibilities and establish mechanisms to track progress. The event is supported by PCRWR through the Ministry of The event is supported by PCRWR through the Ministry of Water Resources, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the CGIAR Policy Innovations Science Program, and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).