KARACHI: The 7th Karachi International Water Conference (KIWC), themed “Water, People, Health – Coping with the Floods”, began today at the Karachi School of Business and Leadership (KSBL). The two-day event is organized by the Hisaar Foundation in collaboration with KSBL.
The conference gathered government officials, international experts, civil society leaders, academics, private-sector representatives, and youth to discuss water security, climate change, and public health.
In her keynote address, Simi Kamal, Founder and Chairperson of Hisaar Foundation, said the event comes at a crucial time when Pakistan is still recovering from the 2025 floods. She emphasized that the language of water is changing and that water, health, and climate can no longer be addressed separately. She called for practical, nature-based, and justice-oriented solutions that connect water management with people’s well-being.
Nadira Panjwani, Founder of the Panjwani Charitable Foundation, spoke about the growth of the Panjwani–Hisaar Water Institute into one of Pakistan’s leading research facilities. Ashraf Kapadia, former Chairman of Hisaar Foundation, reflected on the foundation’s two-decade journey through projects like Adopt a Village, Adopt a School, and community ponds in Thar and Lasbela.
The second plenary, chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain, focused on the “Citizens’ Commission on Floods” and its impact on water, people, and health. A powerful video titled “Aap hamare liye kaisi duniya chhor kar ja rahe hain?” (What kind of world are you leaving for us?) showcased youth perspectives from across Pakistan, urging action against the worsening effects of climate change.
Post-lunch, three parallel sessions explored Water for People, Water for Health and Food Security, and Water Justice.
The session on Advancing South-South Cooperation, chaired by Dr. Pervaiz Amir and moderated by Afia Salam, featured experts from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Switzerland, and the UK. Speakers discussed regional collaboration and knowledge exchange among Global South countries for sustainable water management.
The Water for Health and Food Security session, chaired by Dr. Mohammad Ashraf, examined how water scarcity affects nutrition and agriculture. Panelists from Aga Khan University, GAIN, RSPN, and the Hisaar Foundation Think Tank urged integrated policies linking water, food, and health sectors.
The Water Justice session addressed global compacts on transboundary waters and the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Speakers including Dr. Sonia Murshed, Rafay Alam, and Ali Tauqeer Sheikh emphasized that while the IWT has maintained peace for over 60 years, it now needs updating to reflect climate realities and equitable resource sharing.
Concluding the day, Simi Kamal underscored the importance of a justice-based regional framework and reiterated Hisaar Foundation’s commitment to advancing collaborative, people-centered water governance.
