Stakeholders at IWMI Pakistan's workshop termed the Punjab Water Act 2019 as a key legislation to regulate water availability
OKARA - Experts have warned that Pakistan may face a severe water crisis if measures are not taken in a timely fashion. These comments were made during a workshop on future water availability for the Okara district here on Thursday.
The workshop which was held by The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Pakistan at IWMI Pakistan’s field office stressed effective water management for sustainability in the water sector.
Punjab Water Act 2019 is a key legislation to regulate water use and provide enabling policy support for its sustainability across the Punjab province. Punjab Water Commission and Punjab Water Services Regulatory Authority have been established. However, at the district Okara level, the knowledge and understanding of the Punjab Water Act 2019 is limited.
The workshop was organized as part of the Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP) Program Component 1: Climate Resilient Solutions for Improving Water Governance (CRS-IWaG), implemented by IWMI Pakistan with funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Dr Mohsin Hafeez, the country representative-Pakistan IWMI and project leader, gave an overview of the programme and the ways it would benefit district Okara.
According to him, “Okara is the pilot district where different interventions related to water governance such as groundwater monitoring, water accounting, water allocation system, and irrigation demand management shall be introduced. There is strong ownership of the proposed interventions by the government and hopefully, they’ll be replicated in other districts of Punjab, once successfully piloted.”
Dr Muhammad Javed, the Director Social and Environment Management, Strategic Planning and Reform Unit (SPRU), Punjab Irrigation Department (PID), gave a presentation on water-related challenges in Punjab and the salient features of the Punjab Water Act 2019.
Dr Maqsood Ahmad, Director, Training/Lahore Office, On Farm Water Management (OFWM), Punjab Irrigation Department (PID) gave a presentation on the significance of the Punjab Water Act 2019 for the agriculture sector.
Researcher – Gender and Youth Specialist, IWMI Pakistan, Kanwal Waqar, informed that around 70 per cent of women are involved in the agriculture sector but their contribution is not recognized. She called for adopting gender inclusive and equitable approach in policies, programs, and activities.
Dr. Abdur Rehman Cheema, Regional Researcher – Water Governance and Institutional Specialist, IWMI Pakistan moderated a roundtable dialogue on ways to address water governance, social inclusion, and sustainability in the water sector. Farmers and urban water users actively participated in the dialogue.
Officials from the district government, PID, OFWM, Public Health Engineering Department, Tehsil Municipal Administration, urban households, farmers, academia, and media participated in the workshop.
Daily Pakistan Global Web Desk
KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on March 30, 2023 (Thursday).
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 283.6 | 286.65 |
Euro | EUR | 305.5 | 308.5 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 348 | 351.5 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 77 | 77.7 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 75.5 | 76.3 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 187.5 | 189.9 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 753.99 | 761.99 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 206 | 208.2 |
China Yuan | CNY | 41.25 | 41.65 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 41.26 | 41.51 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 36.11 | 36.46 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.45 | 3.56 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 2.15 | 2.22 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 925.67 | 934.67 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 62.85 | 63.45 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 175.57 | 177.58 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.33 | 26.63 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 736.34 | 744.35 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 77.92 | 78.62 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 209.5 | 211.5 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 26.5 | 26.8 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 308.25 | 310.75 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.28 | 8.43 |
KARACHI - The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs 207,700 on Thursday.The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs178,070.
Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs163,624 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 190,880.
Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Karachi | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Islamabad | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Peshawar | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Quetta | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Sialkot | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Attock | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Gujranwala | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Jehlum | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Multan | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Gujrat | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Nawabshah | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Chakwal | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Hyderabad | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Nowshehra | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Sargodha | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
Faisalabad | PKR 207,700 | PKR 2,470 |
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