Baku (TDI): Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, has announced the initiation of a $4.4 million project aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s water quality monitoring system, with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The initiative targets Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and is expected to benefit over 62 million people.
Speaking at an event titled “Clean Water and Climate Resilience: Transforming Pakistan’s Water and Agricultural Landscape” at the Pakistan Pavilion during the COP29 Global Climate Summit in Baku, Alam highlighted the significance of the project in tackling the country’s water challenges.
The initiative includes upgrading water-quality testing laboratories with advanced equipment, infrastructure improvements, capacity-building programs for staff, and the establishment of a Management Information System (MIS) to streamline operations.
Also Read: Pakistan-Korea Cultural Gala Celebrates Unity
Additionally, nine mobile water-testing labs will be deployed, including eight for KP and one for the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR).
Alam emphasized the impact of climate change on global water quality, pointing out that rising temperatures are reducing oxygen levels in water bodies, fostering harmful algal blooms, and contaminating drinking water sources.
She stressed the need for global collaboration to address these issues, which are compounded by extreme weather events such as floods and droughts.
“In Pakistan, 44% of the population lacks access to safe drinking water,” she noted, adding that efforts by KOICA and UNOPS are being piloted in Islamabad, Punjab, and KP to address this critical gap.
Also Read: South Korean Ambassador Stresses Boosting Trade with Pakistan
The event, co-organized by the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, the Government of KP, KOICA Pakistan, and SEED Pakistan, also shed light on the broader challenges posed by contaminated water.
Heavier rainfall, for instance, increases runoff carrying pollutants like pesticides and industrial waste into freshwater sources, while prolonged dry periods lead to concentrated contaminants and reduced water quality.
Alam reiterated the importance of monitoring and improving water quality to reduce health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid.
Ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water is not only a fundamental right but also a critical step toward protecting lives and reducing the disease burden,” she remarked, calling for continued efforts to combat water quality challenges exacerbated by climate change.
