Islamabad: The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on Wednesday launched three digital platforms designed to improve the management of Pakistan’s water, food, and energy resources in the face of mounting climate challenges.
The tools — Water Productivity Atlas, Water Body Inventory of Pakistan, and Hydro-Economic Model for the Indus Basin — were introduced during a national workshop titled Water, Energy, Food and Environment (WEFE) Nexus Policy under a Changing Climate in Pakistan. The event was supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and CGIAR’s Science Programme on Policy Innovations and Climate Action.
The new platforms aim to support data-driven decision-making by integrating water, agricultural, energy, and environmental planning. Federal and provincial officials, engineers, climate researchers, and civil society members attended the workshop to explore how Pakistan can adopt a more unified, systems-based approach to natural resource governance.
Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Khara said the initiative would improve transparency, data use, and cross-sectoral collaboration in climate and development planning.
Federal Secretary for Water Resources Syed Ali Murtaza noted the growing strain on Pakistan’s water system, citing regional challenges and domestic inefficiencies. He said the newly launched tools could assist in enhancing water productivity, guiding resource allocation, and supporting agricultural planning.
IWMI Director General Dr. Mark Smith emphasized the importance of science-policy linkages to address climate-related risks. “This marks the beginning of building a more informed and responsive policy environment,” he said.
Dr. Mohsin Hafeez, IWMI’s regional director, said Pakistan must abandon siloed thinking in resource management. “We must recognize the interdependence of water, food, energy, and the environment. These must be addressed as a system,” he stated.
Representatives from the provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also highlighted the need for better data and planning tools to address local-level climate impacts and resource stress.
FCDO’s Senior Climate Lead Anna Ballance underscored the UK’s commitment to fostering climate resilience in Pakistan. She urged ministries to integrate the new tools into regular planning and capacity-building processes.
IWMI Pakistan Country Representative Dr. Muhammad Ashraf added that long-term policy integration and sustained partnerships would be key to ensuring these tools deliver meaningful change. The workshop concluded with calls for enhanced inter-ministerial coordination and long-term investment in evidence-based planning.
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