Zafran shah Babar
A high-level post-visit seminar was held at the University of Balochistan on the theme: “Experiences from the Balochistan-European Water Study Tour (Netherlands and Spain): Discussion on Strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Balochistan.”
Guest of honor, Ms. Raheela Hamid Durrani (Provincial Minister for Education, Balochistan), appreciated the university’s academic efforts and emphasized the urgent need for integrated and effective water policies to address Balochistan’s water scarcity. She stressed strong collaboration between educational and governmental institutions for sustainable development.
The seminar was attended by national and international experts, policymakers, educators, university faculty members, and students. The objective was to analyze modern European water management practices and explore their applicability to the Balochistan context.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Balochistan, Professor Dr. Zahoor Ahmad Bazai, welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of sustainable conservation and efficient use of water resources in Balochistan. He stated that learning from European models could help develop integrated strategies tailored to the province’s unique conditions.
Mr. Jiel Bakma delivered a detailed presentation reviewing water management, infrastructure, policies, and IWRM models in the Netherlands and Spain, also addressing the feasibility of adopting these successful European experiences in Balochistan.
Expert advisor Ms. Saima Hashim presented online, providing in-depth analysis of water challenges faced by Balochistan and potential solutions.
An informative panel discussion followed, featuring Professor Dr. Zahoor Ahmad Bazai, Deputy Secretary Public Health Engineering Department Mr. Tanveer Ahmad Jamot, Chief Conservator Forest Mr. Syed Ghulam Muhammad, water management specialist Mr. Shamshir Haider Khan, Ms. Rubina Shah, and Dr. Imran Durrani. The panel engaged in detailed discussions on institutional cooperation, policy formulation, and ground-level challenges under IWRM.
The event was also attended by Professor Dr. Rubina Mushtaq (Vice-Chancellor, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University), Professor Dr. Khalid Hafeez (BUITEMS), and Professor Dr. Shabbir Ahmed Laghari (Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences, Quetta), who praised the seminar’s theme, presentations, and outcomes, supporting the continuity of such initiatives.
At the conclusion, the guest of honor presented commemorative shields to participating vice-chancellors, experts, and speakers.
This seminar marked a significant advancement in practical planning, awareness raising, and policy development regarding integrated water resources management in Balochistan.
